Bourne is a product of the Norths Junior Club in Canberra and Basketball ACT high performance programs. She represented ACT at both the U16 and U18 National Junior Championships.[1] She attended Daramalan College in Canberra.[1]
In 2016, Bourne played for the Canberra Capitals Academy in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).[1] In 17 games, she averaged 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.[2]
Bourne joined the BA Centre of Excellence as a scholarship athlete in 2017.[1][5] She played for the Centre of Excellence in the SEABL, averaging 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14 games in 2017, and 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20 games in 2018.[2]
Bourne joined the Geelong Supercats of the NBL1 for the league's inaugural season in 2019. She missed the NBL1 finals due to leaving for the U.S. to start her college career.[8] In 15 games, she averaged 9.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.[4][9]
As a freshman in 2019–20, Bourne played all 30 games for the Cornhuskers and averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. She closed her first season with a season-high 16 points and a career-high five blocks against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament on 5 March 2020. She added six rebounds, an assist and a steal in a season-high 29 minutes against the Wolverines.[12] The COVID-19 pandemic ended her season prematurely, as she expedited her return to Australia in March 2020 due to border closers. She completed online classes from Australia.[13]
As a sophomore in 2020–21, Bourne played in 22 games with 21 starts, averaging 13.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.[12] In December 2020, she played against her sister Callie when Nebraska played Idaho State.[14] She missed four games mid-season with an ankle injury.[12][15] She scored a season-high-tying 22 points against Purdue on 23 December 2020. She had 21 points and a career-high 17 rebounds against Northwestern on 17 February and a season-high-tying 22 points to go with 11 rebounds against Penn State on 21 February. She was subsequently named Big Ten Conference Player of the Week for the first time and went on to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades.[12]
As a junior in 2021–22, Bourne earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades for the second time after averaging 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 24 minutes per game as a starter. She scored in double figures 20 times, including a career-high 23 points against Alabama A&M on 14 November 2021.[12] Her best friend, Jaz Shelley, joined Nebraska in 2021–22.[16]
As a senior in 2022–23, Bourne earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades for the third time after averaging 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She scored double digits in 21 of 30 games, including three 20-point games. She also produced six double-digit rebound contests, including five double-doubles. She had a season-high 21 points in the season opener and matched that with another 21-point game in February 2023.[12]
Bourne chose to forego a potential fifth season of eligibility to return to Australia to start her professional career.[17] She finished her four-year career with 115 games and 82 starts. She finished No. 21 on Nebraska's all-time scoring list 1,221 points and No. 15 on the Husker career rebounding chart with 648 boards. She became one of only 14 players in school history to reach the combined career milestones of 1,200 points and 600 rebounds. She served as the team's co-captain as a sophomore, junior and senior.[12]
Professional career
In May 2023, Bourne joined the Canberra Nationals of the NBL1 East for the rest of the 2023 season.[18] She was named to the NBL1 East All-Star Five.[19] In 10 games, she averaged 19.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.[4]
On 22 June 2023, Bourne signed a two-year deal with the Adelaide Lightning of the WNBL.[20] In 21 games during the 2023–24 season, she averaged 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.[4]
Bourne joined the Keilor Thunder of the NBL1 South for the 2024 season[21] to play under new coach, Kristi Harrower.[22] She helped the Thunder reach the NBL1 South Grand Final, where they lost 87–82 despite 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists from Bourne.[23] She was named the NBL1 South Most Valuable Player and earned NBL1 South All-Star Five honours.[24][25] In 25 games, she averaged 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[4]
Bourne re-joined the Adelaide Lightning for the 2024–25 WNBL season. She was considered one of the Lightning's standouts throughout preseason.[26]
She is set to re-join the Keilor Thunder for the 2025 NBL1 South season.[27]
In 2019, Bourne helped the Gems to a silver medal at the FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup in Thailand. She averaged 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23.1 minutes per game.[12]
Personal life
Bourne's father, Trent, played Australian rules football, while her mother, Ann, was a basketball player.[12] Her older sister, Callie, was a five-year contributor at Idaho State,[11] and her oldest sister, Emma, also played for the Canberra Capitals Academy.[12][13]
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