The 2degrees Tall Ferns have secured their first win of the 2026 Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, this morning 57-35 over Argentina.
The game started slow, with both teams taking some time to find their feet in Arena Astros. The Whittaker sisters, Charlotte and Lauren contributing early for the Kiwi’s, whilst former Tokomanawa Queens guard, Florencia Chagas, quickly put 5 points up for the Argentinians.
A tight second quarter was reflective of the first quarter, as both teams settled into the game.
Baylor’s Ella Brow looked right at home back in black for the first time since May 2025, knocking down two triples in the second.
Whilst the half-time break proved to be somewhat of a handbrake for both teams, scoring eight points each in the third term, the fourth quarter is where the Tall Ferns snatched control of the contest.
Brow opened the fourth quarter attack with another triple, her third of the night. Ella Tofaeono getting in on the party from outside the arc, before Brow hit her fourth triple of the evening.
The 2degrees Tall Ferns shutting down the Argentinian offence, limiting them to just three points in the fourth, whilst piling on a mammoth 21 points to obliterate their opponents and open their Pre-Olympic Qualifying campaign with an impressive 57-35 win.
Coach Nat Hurst pleased with the team’s opening game performance.
“Effort wise I can’t fault any of that. With the small preparation I’m really proud of the effort and trying to stick to what we wanted to do today.”
Guard Tayla Dalton joining her coaches praise of the team despite a limited run-in for the tournament.
“Being a de-centralised program, we’ve only had a few trainings together so it’s a huge credit to our coaches and our staff that have helped us get together.”
That fourth quarter effort on the defensive end, a huge positive for the Tall Ferns squad.
“A defensive effort to keep any international team to 35 points is very impressive.”
For Coach Nat Hurst, looking after the rock will be a work on in the lead up to tomorrow afternoon’s game against Brazil, after a shaky 21 turnovers in this mornings game.
“We want to clean up our turnovers. We weren’t happy about that, we looked a little sloppy at times but again, we had five practices coming into this so considering, we just have to keep building on what we did today.”
A massive achievement in today’s game for our latest Tall Ferns, Flo Dallow and Imani Rasmussen, who both made their debuts for the 2degrees Tall Ferns today.
The team now reset and look for the the Brazilian challenge tomorrow afternoon (2:45pm tip-off on Courtside 1891 via DAZN).
2degrees Tall Ferns 57 (Brow 14p, 5r, Shearer 12p, L.Whittaker 11p, 9r) defeat Argentina 35 (Chagas 10p, D’urso 8p, Cabrera 6p).
Q1: ARG 12 – 14 NZL
HT: ARG 24 – 28 NZL
Q3: ARG 32 – 36 NZL
FT: ARG 35 – 57 NZL
