Despite a spirited performance, the U18 New Zealand women’s team has suffered a second successive defeat at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China with a 90-68 loss to the host nation on Tuesday.
The towering presence of China’s Zhang Ziyu was the difference maker as she was almost impossible to stop in the paint – where the 7’3″ centre accumulated 36 points, on 16 from 20 shooting, in addition to securing 13 rebounds and blocking 4 shots.
After trailing by double figures early on, the Junior Tall Ferns were only a point down late in the second quarter but were eventually overpowered by Ziyu’s interior presence.
Not surprisingly with Ziyu’s height advantage – she is taller than any current WNBA player and most NBA players – China won the rebounding count 50-43, although the Kiwis can take great heart from competing so well on the boards.
Kavanah Lene led the Junior Tall Ferns scoring effort with 13 points, followed by Shawnee Nordstrom (10 points) while Tannika Leger-Walker and Olivia Lassey scored 9 points apiece.
As a team, New Zealand shot 38% (28/80) from the field and 24% (8/33) from beyond the arc; compared to China 51% shooting from the field and 33% from deep.
The turnover count (20 each) was identical, although China were able to make 20 points from those errors compared with the Kiwis 4 points.
In a sign of things to come, it was Ziyu that scored the first points of the contest – before Leeson struck back immediately for the Junior Tall Ferns. Lene and Lassey made a pair of triples for New Zealand, but China were 19-10 ahead midway through the opening period.
Scoring slowed at the back end of the stanza as New Zealand lifted their defensive intensity, although China still enjoyed a healthy 27-15 lead at quarter time.
The second period started well for the Kiwis, with Lene cutting the deficit to single figures and Nordstrom landing back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to five; China needing a timeout to regroup. After Elise Carline made an inside basket to trim the margin to three points, Rebecca Moors made the difference a single point (33-32).
Ziyu’s reintroduction changed the complexion of the game once more, as she initiated a 10-1 Chinese run to close the half with China 43-33 ahead – Lene and Nordstrom with 8 points apiece at the interval.
Lene and Lassey made the first two baskets of the second half only for China to then peel off an 8-0 run. Leger-Walker would make consecutive scores but the third quarter belonged to China, or more accurately Ziyu, as she -scored 14 of China’s 28 as they headed for home with a 71-49 lead. Despite the lose, the Junior Tall Ferns stuck to the task admirably in the fourth – tying the period at 19 points apiece.
The Junior Tall ferns must now focus on tomorrow’s critical game against Indonesia. To remain in contention for a top four finish – and with it a place at the 2024 U19 World Cup – New Zealand now faces a must win game against Indonesia on Wednesday with tip-off at 8.30pm (NZT).
Stats:
New Zealand 68 – Lene 13 PTS & 6 REBS | Nordstrom 10 PTS | Lassey 9 PTS , 7 REBS & 4 STEALS | Leger-Walker 9 PTS | Moors 7 PTS | Leeson 6 PTS | Bright 5 PTS| Gilbert 5 PTS | Carline 4 PTS
China 90 – ZHANG 36 PTS, 13 REBS & 4 BLOCKS | XU 15 PTS
Box Score: https://bbnz.link/U18AC_NZLvCHN
Quarter Scores: 15-27, 18-16, 16-28, 19-19
FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup – New Zealand Schedule and Results
NZL v Japan – LOST 84-47
NZL v China – LOST 90-68
NZL v Indonesia – 8.30pm NZT, Wednesday 26 June
Junior Tall Ferns Squad at FIBA U18 Asia Cup
Arna Bright, Basketball Taranaki
Elise Carline, Basketball Otago
Elise Gilbert, Waikato Basketball Council
Olivia Lassey, Tauranga City Basketball Association
Evie Leeson, Canterbury Basketball Association
Tannika Leger-Walker, Waikato Basketball Council
Kavanah Lene, Canterbury Basketball Association
Rebecca Moors, Harbour Basketball Association
Shawnee Nordstrom, Waikato Basketball Council
Annika Scott, Logan Thunder (NBL1)
Zenthia Stowers, Harbour Basketball Association
Temepara Walker, Waikato Basketball Council
