Gangurrus women star in Glasgow sweep

It was a perfect start for the Australian women’s Gangurrus at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with Amy Atwell, Emma Clarke, Lara McSpadden and Marena Whittle leading the team to three opening-day victories.

The Gangurrus opened their 3x3 campaign in Glasgow by defeating Kenya 21-5, Jamaica 21-13 and Fiji 21-3.

Across the three games, Clarke top-scored for Australia with 8.3 points per game to go with 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 6-of-9 from outside.

Atwell is in the middle of an NBL1 West campaign with the Rockingham Flames ahead of joining the UC Capitals this WNBL season. She averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting 5-of-14 from two-point range.

McSpadden has been playing a significant role for the Keilor Thunder during the NBL1 South season and averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds across the three games, while Whittle contributed 3.3 points and 2.3 boards.

The Gangurrus opened their campaign against Kenya and made a strong start, taking a 4-1 lead after a two-pointer from Clarke before moving ahead 11-3 when Whittle also connected from outside.

Clarke then sealed the 21-5 victory with the winning score, finishing with nine points, while Atwell added six points and six rebounds.

Next up, Australia faced Jamaica, with Clarke opening the scoring with a two-pointer. The Gangurrus maintained a slender advantage for the remainder of the contest before Clarke sealed the 21-13 victory with an outside shot.

Atwell finished with eight points, Clarke added six and McSpadden scored five.

The Gangurrus completed their opening day against Fiji, scoring the first six points and never looking back on their way to a 21-3 victory. Clarke finished with another 10 points, McSpadden and Whittle scored four apiece, and Atwell added three.

The Australian men’s team was also in action across three games on the opening day in Glasgow, defeating New Zealand 21-15, Nigeria 21-15 and Scotland 21-14.

Across the three victories, Jonah Antonio averaged 8.0 points while shooting 10-of-21 from two-point range, Sam McDaniel produced 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds, Jesse Wagstaff contributed 3.7 points and 4.0 rebounds, and Jarred Bairstow added 2.0 points and 2.3 boards.

The Australian men’s wheelchair team played one game, suffering a tight 16-13 defeat to England. Luke Pople and Tom O’Neill-Thorne scored four points apiece, with Tomas Klein adding three and Eithen Leard two.

Australia’s women’s wheelchair team also played one game, falling 16-6 to England. Georgia Munro-Cook scored four of Australia’s six points.