| Birth date | 9 May 1931 |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Mayfield, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Team | Opals |
| Number | 10 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Awards |
|
| Death date | 29 May 2021 (aged 90) |
Melva Claire Saunders (, 9 May 1931 – 29 May 2021[1]) was an Australian women's basketball player.[2]
Biography
Hancock played for the Australia women's national basketball team at the 1957 FIBA World Championship for Women, hosted by Brazil.[3] Hancock commenced playing basketball as a junior in 1949 and represented New South Wales (NSW) at the Australian Championships in 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1962.[4] She was a key member of the Newcastle team that won eight straight NSW Country and NSW State championships.[5]
For her participation as a player, manager and administrator of the game from 1949 to 1978, Hancock was inducted into the Basketball NSW Hall of Fame in 2013.[5] Her married name is Melva Hancock.
References
- ^ Symington, Elizabeth (2021-05-31). "Pioneering Melva fondly remembered". Newcastle Weekly. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
- ^ Brasil, Cartões de Imigração familysearch.org
- ^ FIBA Archive. 1957 World Championship for Women. Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ Basketball NSW. Melva Hancock (nee Saunders). Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ Keeble, Brett (July 4, 2013). Basketball stalwarts honoured. Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 2017-11-15.