Coupeville Sports

Makana Stone warms up Wednesday before playing in her third professional basketball game in Britain. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

She hasn’t lost as a pro.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone and the Leicester Riders thunked the Cardiff Met Archers 77-46 Wednesday in Women’s British Basketball League action, claiming their third-straight win to open the season.

With the victory, the Riders take top honors in their group at the WBBL Cup and advance to the semifinals, where they’ll square off with the Newcastle Eagles.

The London Lions and Sheffield Hatters play in the other half of the draw, with both games to be played at a still-to-be-determined date.

Leicester is the defending WBBL Cup champs, though this is Stone’s first go-around in the event.

The former Wolf came off the bench Wednesday to pile up five points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 20.5 minutes of action.

Stone played the most of any Riders bench player.

Using a stifling defense, Leicester jumped all over Cardiff Met, turning a string of turnovers into quick buckets as it jumped out to a 25-8 lead by the first break.

The Riders took a slight step back in the second frame, but still led 39-24 at the half, before shoving things back out to 54-32 heading into the fourth.

Leicester put five players into double-digit scoring in the rout, with Louise Rouse and Brooklynn Mcalear-Fanus pacing the Riders with 14 points apiece.

Through three pro games, Stone has racked up 17 points, 21 rebounds, five assists, and a steal.

With a break in WBBL Cup action, Leicester opens the regular season Oct. 2, when it plays the Nottingham Wildcats.

https://twitter.com/RidersWomen/status/1442839867835260929

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Coupeville’s Makana Stone continues to light up the European basketball scene. (Photo property Leicester Riders)

She’s bonafide.

Makana Stone became Coupeville’s first professional athlete in decades (maybe ever?) Saturday, making her debut with the Leicester Riders of the Women’s British Basketball League.

And she got a win to put the cherry on top.

With Stone coming off the bench to pop for six points, haul in five rebounds, and dish out an assist, the Riders bounced the Oaklands Wolves 57-48 in Wales.

The game was the first of at least three games Leicester will play in the 13-team WBBL Cup.

The Riders clash with Gloucester City Sunday, then play Cardiff Met Sept. 29.

If Stone and Co. finish atop Group C, they advance to the semifinals of the tourney.

The regular season kicks off Oct. 3.

Saturday’s game marked a bit of a twist for Stone, as she came off the bench for the Riders after being a starter for almost every game while playing four years of high school ball and five college seasons across two countries.

She ended up playing almost 17 minutes, second-most of any bench player, and finished with a +/- rating of 12, best of any Leicester player, starter or bench.

Stone poured in all six of her points in the fourth quarter, as the Riders stretched a three-point lead after three frames out to nine by the end of the game.

A jump shot which tickled the twines at the 7:43 mark was her first official professional points, then was quickly followed by a layup, and a pair of pressure-packed free throws.

Anna Lappenkuper and Hannah Robb paced Leicester with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

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