Natalie Burton

Natalie Burton
No. 10 – Perth Lynx
Position Power forward / Center
League WNBL
Personal information
Born (1989-03-23) 23 March 1989
Perth, Western Australia
Nationality Australian
Listed height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Career information
High school Carine Senior
(Perth, Western Australia)
College West Virginia (2008–2012)
WNBA draft 2012 / Undrafted
Playing career 2012–present
Career history
2012–2014 West Coast Waves
2014–2015 Melbourne Boomers
2015–present Perth Lynx
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Australia
FIBA World Championship
2014 Turkey
Summer Universiade
2013 Kazan Team

Natalie Burton (born 23 March 1989) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She also represents the Australian national team in international competition.

College career

In her four-year career at West Virginia, Burton averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 119 games. Her 52.8 career field goal percentage ranks her as the second best in West Virginia history. She graduated in May 2012 with a degree in finance.[1][2]

Professional career

Following her graduation from West Virginia University, Burton returned to her hometown of Perth and signed with the West Coast Waves for the 2012–13 WNBL season. After averaging 8.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24 games over her rookie season, she recommitted to the Waves for the 2013–14 season. In her second season, she averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 17 games.[3]

In April 2014, Burton signed with the Melbourne Boomers for the 2014–15 WNBL season.[4] In 22 games for the Boomers, she averaged 7.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.[3]

On 17 April 2015, Burton signed with the Perth Lynx, a day after the rebranding of her former team the West Coast Waves.[5][6] She appeared in all 24 games during the regular season, helping the Lynx finish second on the ladder with a 16–8 win/loss record. The Lynx went on to defeat the first-seeded Townsville Fire in the semi-finals, thus advancing to the WNBL grand final for the first time since 1999.[7] There they were outclassed by the defending champion Townsville (who made it to the grand final via the preliminary final), losing the best-of-three series 2–0. She appeared in all 27 games for the Lynx in 2015–16, averaging 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

On 27 May 2016, Burton re-signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2016–17 WNBL season.[8] On 25 November 2016, she played her 100th WNBL game.[9]

National team career

Burton represented Australia at the XXVII Summer Universiade (2013 World University Games), held in the city of Kazan (Tatarstan, Russia). The team won each of the preliminary games in the quarterfinal match by double-digit margins. Then they faced the USA team in the semifinals.[10] Australia opened up strong, leading 20–13 at the end of the first quarter. The USA came back and cut the lead to a single point at halftime. In the second half the USA took over the lead, and led by as many as 17 points, 71–54 with just over seven minutes to go. The Australians mounted a furious comeback and took a one-point lead in the final minute. The USA responded with a basket but Australia was unable to score on the final possession. The USA won 79–78.[11] Burton scored four points.[12] The Australians played in the bronze medal game against Chinese Taipei and won easily 99–58. Burton scored two points in the bronze medal game.[13]

Later in 2013, Burton helped the Australian Opals win the gold medal at the FIBA Oceania Championship. In 2014, she won another bronze medal with the Opals, this time at the FIBA World Championship.[14] She won another gold medal with the Opals at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship.

Personal

Burton's younger sister, Emily, is also a basketball player; she currently plays in the State Basketball League for the Perry Lakes Hawks.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "35 Natalie Burton". WVUSports.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "WVUSports – Natalie Burton". WVUSports.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 Player statistics for Natalie Burton
  4. ↑ Ward, Roy (9 April 2014). "Melbourne Boomers sign Opal centre Natalie Burton". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Chairman Jack Bendat welcomes Perth Lynx first signing
  6. ↑ Luna, Russell (15 September 2015). "Burton Credits WVU for Professional Success". Retrieved 16 Sep 2015.
  7. ↑ LYNX SMASH FIRE, QUALIFY FOR GRAND FINAL
  8. ↑ NATALIE BURTON RE-SIGNS
  9. ↑ NATALIE BURTON - 100 WNBL GAMES
  10. ↑ "Burton". www.fisu.net. Retrieved 16 Sep 2015.
  11. ↑ "USA Women's World University Games Team Survives Australian Comeback, Advances To Finals With Thrilling 79-78 Win". USA Basketball. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 16 Sep 2015.
  12. ↑ "Official Results". universiade2013.sportresult.com. Retrieved 16 Sep 2015.
  13. ↑ "Official results". universiade2013.sportresult.com. Retrieved 16 Sep 2015.
  14. ↑ Australia's Opals crush Turkey to win bronze at the women's world championship basketball
  15. ↑ Coaches look ahead to Week 2 of the SBL
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