The U17 Women’s National Team began their FIBA Asian Championship campaign, in Amman, Jordan on Friday, in splendid fashion with an 80-63 victory against Korea.
The Kiwis used a dominant fourth quarter, in which they kept Korea to just nine points, to seal a crucial first up win.
New Zealand enjoyed contributions from all twelve players – most noticeably Maia Jones (15 points) and Karereatua Williams (14 points), with the pair a combined 7-10 from beyond the arc.
Lily Taulelei and Ritorya Tamilo dominated the boards – Tamilo finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Tokomanawa Queens forward Taulelei amassed 14 points and 14 rebounds.
After Jones had made the opening shot of the game, 10 minutes world number 19 ranked Korea (New Zealand ranked No 21) made marginally the better start leading 13-10 after.
The teams couldn’t be split in the second period – 22 points from each side meant Korea held 35-32 half-time advantage.
A basket from Taulelei and back-to-back threes from Williams gave New Zealand the lead early in the fourth. Thereafter it was nip and tuck with the Kiwis holding a slender 56-54 lead at three-quarter time.
Ivy Brown made the opening score of the final period and with Williams, Tamilo and Taulelei making shots the New Zealand advantage stretched to 11 points (88-57). Korea landed a couple of threes to threaten a comeback, but a pull-up three from Jones – her fourth triple of the game – with just under three minutes to play put the stamp on a highly successful first outing for New Zealand.
New Zealand 80 – Jones 15pts (4/6 3-pointers) & 6 assists | Williams 14pts (3/4 3-pointers) | Taulelei 14pts | Tamilo 13pts | 10rebs & 3 blocks | Rean 6pts | Brown 4pts | Pateman 4pts | Cameron 4pts & 8 rebounds | Clarken 3pts | Leger-Walker 2pts | Ohia 1pt
Korea 63 – Inye Yang 22
New Zealand Schedule: (times given are local in New Zealand).
- Friday June 24 v Korea W 80-63
- Saturday June 25 v Australia at 6.00pm
- Monday June 27 v Japan at 6.00pm
- Tuesday June 28 v India at 8.15pm
- Wednesday June 29 – Semi-Finals (time TBC)
- Thursday June 30 – Final & 3rd/4th play-off games (time TBC)
The Asian Championship, postponed from 2021 due to Covid, doubles as a Qualifying Tournament for the U17 Women’s FIBA World Cup to be played in Hungary, July 9-17. The top four teams in Jordan will qualify for the Word Cup.
All games will be shown live via https://nz.basketball/tv/
Links to the streaming, rosters, statistics and live stats can be found here: https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u16women/2022
U17 Women’s National Team
Ivy Brown – North Canterbury
Layla J Cameron – New Zealand
Waimanu Clarken – Basketball Auckland
Maia Jones – Nelson Basketball
Cassidy Lacey-Rameka – Rotorua Basketball Association
Tannika Leger-Walker – Waikato Basketball
Carly Ohia – Rotorua Basketball Association
Amy-Lee Pateman – Harbour Basketball
Ashlyn Rean – North Canterbury
Ritorya Tamilo – Basketball Auckland
Lily Taulelei – Wellington Basketball Association
Karereatua Williams – Canterbury
Unable to travel due to injury
Elise Gilbert – Waikato Basketball
Lauren Whittaker – Canterbury
Head Coach – Lori McDaniel
Assistant Coach – Pina Lissaman
Assistant Coach – Ryan Dubbledam
Team Manager – Jemma Lawton
Physio – Kylie Cox
Team Doctor – Dr Kaylie Baker
