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Posts Tagged ‘Loughborough University’

Stone an overseas hoops sensation

Posted in Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 24, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville grad Makana Stone is impressing English basketball fans. (Photo property FocusHoops)

Two games, two awards.

Makana Stone’s hoops game is impressing the folks in England, as the former Wolf star continues to carve up the local competition.

The Coupeville High School grad, who is attending Loughborough University, has thrown down double-doubles in both of her games in a Riders uniform.

After an 18-point, 25-rebound debut, which earned her Player of the Week honors, Stone followed that up with a 17-point, 11-rebound performance in just 17 minutes of action against Worcester.

For that high-impact showing, FocusHoops named her Tuesday to its Women’s National Basketball League Team of the Week.

Stone joins Worcester’s Carolina Marques and Grace Brownell, as well as Sitota Gines Espinosa (Reading) and Isabel Bueriberi (Nottingham) on the squad.

In picking Stone, FocusHoops writer Darren Paul had the following to say:

“Her 17-11 double-double was highly impressive against the tough Worcester Wolves and on another day would have been enough to see her side victorious.

“The American continues to demonstrate the value of a star import and has brought an abundance of scoring and rebounding to the young Loughborough outfit, and we expect to see her leave her mark on the WNBL.”

Stone, who graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, where she finished as the #2 rebounder and #5 scorer in program history, is pursuing a Master’s in Exercise Physiology at Loughborough.

Through two games as a Rider, she’s collected 35 points, 36 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and a blocked shot.

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Stone sizzles, refs disappoint

Posted in Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Makana Stone goes up for two of her 17 points Saturday in England. (Photo property Loughborough University)

Knifed in the back by the refs.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone and her new English basketball mates were on their way to a win Saturday, only to have the guys in the striped shirts change things up, and not in a good way.

With Stone pounding away for 17 points and 11 rebounds, Loughborough University led by nine with less than four minutes to play.

Then the refs got extra-picky (we’ll assume), fouling out both the former Wolf and one of her running mates, guard Robyn Ainge, and things went downhill from there.

Unable to hold a late lead, the Riders eventually went to overtime with Worcester, then were blanked 15-0 in the extra frame, falling 82-67 to the undefeated Wolves.

The loss drops Loughborough to 1-2 on the season.

The game was a tight one most of the way, with the two squads knotted at 17-17 at the first break.

From there, Worcester pulled ahead 33-28 at the half, only to see Loughborough throw down 27 points in the third quarter en route to retaking the advantage at 55-51.

The Riders stretched their lead all the way out to nine points when Stone tossed in her final layup at the 3:41 mark.

Still up 67-62 with just 30 ticks on the clock, Loughborough was stung at the very end by back-to-back buckets, with a late three-ball forcing overtime.

With 40% of their starting lineup shackled to the bench, the Riders endured a painful overtime period, creating a final score which, at first glance, looks like a blowout.

Worcester took advantage of Stone’s absence, outscoring Loughborough 26-2 after its American ace was sent to the sideline.

Playing in her second game overseas, the Coupeville and Whitman College grad kept her hot play going, with her second double-double.

Stone added two assists and two steals to her 17 and 11 performance, while teammate Katie Januszewska chipped in with 14 points and 11 rebounds of her own.

On the season, Stone has racked up 35 points, 36 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and a blocked shot.

Loughborough, which plays most of its games on Saturdays, returns to action November 28 with a clash against Thames Valley.

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Blimey, she’s good!

Posted in Basketball, tagged , , , , on November 16, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville grad Makana Stone went off in her basketball debut in England. (Photo property Loughborough University)

Hoops queen of two countries.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone, coming off a Hall of Fame-worthy basketball career at Whitman College, made her hardwood debut in England and immediately wowed the locals.

Playing for Loughborough University, the former Wolf threw down an 18-point, 25-rebound, three-assist, three-steal game, leading her squad to a victory.

That performance earned her Women’s National Basketball League Player of the Week honors.

Stone, who is in England to pursue a Master’s in Exercise Physiology, plays for the Loughborough Riders, who held off the Reading Rockets 64-61 Saturday afternoon.

The Riders built a 35-27 lead heading into halftime, then coasted home for the season-opening win.

Throwing down major heat in merry ol’ England is just the latest accomplishment for Stone.

During her time in Coupeville, she was a two-time Athlete of the Year at CHS while playing soccer, basketball, and track and field.

While earning a B.A. in Biology at Whitman, Stone also earned league MVP, All-Region and All-American honors for her play on the basketball court.

She and her fellow Blues from the Class of 2020 went to the NCAA tourney three times, won a league title, and captured more wins than any group in program history.

Oh, and Stone finished as the #5 scorer and #2 rebounder in school history.

While always getting her greatest joy from cheering on her teammates, handing out high-fives at a dizzying rate.

 

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