New Zealand has lost 68-35 to Germany, in the opening game of Group D at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Hungary on Saturday night.
World number 11 Germany (NZ ranked #21) were far too good for New Zealand, who shot a lowly 14% (4/28) from the 3-point line and just 20% (12/61) overall.
North Harbour guard Amy-Lee Pateman top scored for New Zealand with 9 points – her 3 from 5 shooting number standing out like a beacon. Auckland forward Ritorya Tamilo was the only other notable contributor with 8 points. Maia Jones, the leading 3-point shooter at the Asia Championship last month had an off night going zero from 8 from beyond the arc.
Lily Taulelei had the distinction of scoring the first points for New Zealand at the World Cup, but Tannika Leger-Walker was the only other scorer as the Kiwis fell behind 12-4.
New Zealand’s defence was holding up well – only 25 points given up in the first half. A pair of triples from Pateman in the final minute of the opening half took the New Zealand total to 14.
Tamilo scored 7 third quarter points but the German lead ahead of the final period was 45-24, the Europeans going on to outscore the Kiwis 23-11 in the last ten minutes.
Next up New Zealand face the rather daunting task of taking on top seed, and defending champions, USA (5.30am, Monday July 11th, NZT).
New Zealand 35 – Pateman 9 PTS (3/5 3-pts) | Tamilo 8 PTS | Leger-Walker 4 PTS | Jones 4 PTS | Taulelei 3 PTS & 8 REBS | Cameron 3 PTS & 8 REBS | Clarken 2 PTS | Williams 2 PTS & 8 REBS
Germany 68 – A Soltau 14
New Zealand are drawn in Group D alongside World number one ranked USA, Germany (#11) and Mali (#15). New Zealand have a world ranking of 21.
Full fixtures and statistics can be found at: https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u17women/2022
New Zealand Schedule: (times given are local in New Zealand)
- Sat 9 July vs Germany –– (L 68-35) Re-watch at nz.basketball/tv
- Sun 10 July vs USA – (5.30am Mon 11 July) – watch at nz.basketball/tv
- Tues 12 July vs Mali – (6.00am Weds 13 July) – watch at nz.basketball/tv
U17 Women’s National Team Roster
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
Head Coach – Lori McDaniel
Assistant Coach – Pina Lissaman
Assistant Coach – Ryan Dubbledam
Team Manager – Jemma Lawton
Physio – Kylie Cox
Team Doctor – Dr Kaylie Baker
About The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022
The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 features the world’s top 16 women’s U17 national team with 56 games played across 9 days from July 9-17 in Debrecen, Hungary.
As event hosts, Hungary gained automatic entry. The remaining 15 teams qualified through regional U16 championships with 2 from Africa, 5 from Europe, 4 from the Americas, and 4 from Asia – with New Zealand earning their place after securing a spot in the recent FIBA U16 Asian Championship.
