A tough loss for New Zealand in the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup Classification Round, falling 66-70 to Chinese Taipei.
Down 44-58 to start the fourth, the Kiwis fought back valiantly in the final period – a Bailey Flavell triple bringing New Zealand to within four points with a minute left to play. But Chinese Taipei held on, driven by a breakout game from Yu Chen Peng and her 19 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Chinese Taipei won the battle of the boards 52-43, including 20 offensive rebounds that led directly to 16 second-chance points. They also forced New Zealand into 17 turnovers while keeping their miscues down to just 9; their defensive effort making up for their poor outside shooting as they connected on just 6-31 shots (19%) while New Zealand went 9-25 (36%) from beyond the arc.
The Kiwis were led by Flavell’s 15 points – hitting 3-6 from downtown – along with an 11 point, 10 rebounds double-double from Waikimihia Douglas Karauna and 11 points from Pahlyss Hokianga. Kodee Williams-Sefo added 7 points & 11 rebounds, with 6 apiece from Keriana-Marie Hippolite & Graecyn Parahi.
The game began with Chinese Taipei building a quick 5-0 lead, before the Kiwis went on an 8-0 run to claim the lead – thanks to a Hippolite shot from beyond the arc. The lead swung back and forth throughout the quarter, with another Hippolite triple giving New Zealand a 21-8 lead after one.
Chinese Taipei again started the following quarter strong, hitting 3 straight buckets as part of a 6-0 run; Yang deadly with 9 points scored in the first six minutes of the period as Chinese Taipei reclaimed the lead – despite shooting just 7-22 from the floor in the quarter.
Gaining confidence from their four point buffer to open the second half, Chinese Taipei continued to build up the lead in the third period as they outscored New Zealand 23-13. Williams-Sefo and Parahi did all they could to narrow the gap with 4 and 3 points respectively, but the advantage had swung Chinese Taipei’s way thanks to their improved shooting and defence.
But the Kiwis were determine to get back into this game in the final period, starting with a triple from Flavell and scores from a resurgent Hokianga; the backcourt duo combining for New Zealand’s first 10 points of the period. An 8-0 run put the Kiwi’s to within six points with three minutes left, before a huge Flavell triple – her second of the quarter – bought the Kiwis to within four. But New Zealand wouldn’t score again, allowing Chinese Taipei to escape with the tight win.
New Zealand will play their final Classification game of the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup tomorrow morning, facing Egypt at 9am NZT.
Stats:
New Zealand 66 – Flavell 15 PTS | Hokianga 11 PTS &5 REB | Douglas-Karauna 11 PTS & 10 REB | Enriquez-Paea 8 PTS | Williams-Sefo 7 PTS & 11 REB | Hippolite 6 PTS | Parahi 6 PTS | Thomson 2 PTS
Chinese Taipei 70 – Y. Peng 19 PTS & 10 REB & 5 AST | Y. Lin 15 PTS & 7 REB | J. Wang 13 PTS & 6 REB
Box Score: https://bbnz.link/U17WWC_NZLvTPE
Quarter Scores: 21-18, 31-35, 44-58, 66-70
FIBA U7 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand Schedule and Results
NZL v Italy – LOST 63-71
NZL v Mexico – WON 98-81
NZL v Mali – WON 84-47
NZL v Finland – LOST 78-55
NZL v Puerto Rico – WON 79-76
NZL v Chinese Taipei – LOST 66-70
NZL v Egypt, 9am NZT Mon 22 July
NZ Women’s U17 Squad at FIBA U17 World Cup
Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna, Rotorua Basketball Association
Chanel Enriquez-Paea, Gold Coast Rollers (NBL1)
Bailey Flavell, Harbour Basketball Association
Olivia Hastings, Norths Bears (NBL1)
Sophia Hickey, DME Academy
Keriana-Marie Hippolite, Brisbane Capitals (NBL1)
Pahlyss Hokianga, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Taia McMechan, Nunawading Spectres (NBL1)
Graecyn Parahi, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Cassidy Thomson, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (AUS)
Kodee Williams-Sefo, Harbour Basketball Association
Gia Vukona, Southern District Spartans (NBL1)
