Chelsie Schweers – Ipswich Force
After putting together another match-winning performance, Ipswich’s Chelsie Schweers has picked up the Player of the Week title for Round 10, her second in as many weeks. The import shot a round-high 36 points in the Force’s taxing 84-71 win over Toowoomba on Saturday, lifting the Force in the middle quarters to help overcome a tenacious Mountaineers side. Schweers had a quiet first 10 minutes, with the Mountaineers getting the upper hand and holding a one-point lead following a grinding first quarter. With the early advantage on their home court firing up the Mountaineers, Ipswich had to fight hard to keep in touch with them in the second quarter. Schweers was the lynchpin in this quarter hitting 15 of Ipswich’s 22 points, including three triples, to see the Force battle for the lead before scores were tied at 36-all at halftime. The third quarter again saw Schweers take control on the scoreboard hitting 12 points, the Force holding Toowoomba to 12 points to their 28 for the period, to take a commanding 16 point lead at the final break. The margin set them up for the run home, Schweers contributing a further seven points as the Force secured the 13 point victory. With Toowoomba’s Kisha Lee testing the visitors the entire match with 35 points and 12 rebounds it was no easy win, with Schweers’ accuracy rates of 57.7% in the field, 50% at the arc and 66.7% at the foul line helping to get the Force home. She also contributed four assists, three steals and three rebounds in the match against her 2013 QBL team. Schweers currently sits second in the league on average points with 29.4 points per game, second in the league for three-point percentages with 43.8%, third in the league for assists with 5.2 per game on average, and second in the league for total match points with 294 points so far this season. 

Her Round 10 performance follows her Player of the Week title-winning effort in Round 9, where she shot 35 points and took 11 assists to see Ipswich take a 91-78 win over South West Metro Pirates. In her first QBL season with Toowoomba in 2013 the 25 year old from Norfolk, Virginia was Player of the Week twice and averaged 28.2 points per game during the season. Schweers joined the QBL following an impressive career at Christopher Newport University, where led the scoring in all divisions with an average of 25 points per game, and was named NCAA Division III National Player of the Year in her senior year. She was ranked second in Division III’s history with 2,869 college career points, in addition to leading the division in three-pointers with more than 400 scored. Following college she was contracted to play with Greek team Panathinaikos, where she averaged 13 points per game at 55.6% in the field.

Schweers was not alone in putting on an impressive performance in Round 10, with a number of players standing out this week. Rachel Allison led the Meteorettes to a solid win over Gladstone with her contribution of 27 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Kisha Lee was epic in defeat against Ipswich with 35 points and 12 rebounds for Toowoomba. Chandrea Jones dominated for Rockhampton in the Cyclones’ win over Bundaberg with 29 points and 18 rebounds and Northside’s Gianna Woods had a breakout match in the Wizards’ win over Suncoast, with 26 points and 19 rebounds.