The 2degrees Tall Ferns have fallen 64-88 to Montenegro today, in their opening game of the FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifiers in Mexico.
After holding a 21-16 lead early in the second quarter, Montenegro put on a shooting clinic – hitting three of their 14 made triples in a five-minute span to go up 37-32 at the break, then outscoring the Kiwis 51-32 in the second half to claim the win. Montenegro shot 14/38 from beyond the arc at a 37% clip, with leading scorer Bojana Kovacevic hitting 4-7 triples for her 18 points on the night.
New Zealand was led by Ritorya Tamilo who scored 11 points & 6 rebounds in a solid effort; Penina Davidson also with 11 points, Tera Reed scoring 9 points & 4 assists. McKenna Dale added 8 points and Pahlyss Hokianga added 5 – all in the fourth quarter – along with & 5 assists.
The game also saw four Tall Fern debuts in Bailey Flavell (3pts), Ashlee Strawbridge, Ella Tofaeono (4pts) and Charlotte Whittaker (7pts); the quartet scoring a combined 14 points off the bench.
Statistically, Montenegro won the game not just with their shooting and offensive rebounding (16 boards, leading to a 19-8 advantage in second chance points), but also with a solid defensive effort. They forced the Kiwis into 25 turnovers – which they directly turned into 33 points – and held the Tall Ferns to just 20 made shot attempts (from 52 attempts) from the field at a 38.5% clip.
Following the game, Tall Ferns head coach Natalie Hurst says that the team will collectively need to learn from their mistakes so they can apply them to their game – against hosts Mexico on Thursday.
“This was our first run as a group together; so credit to Montenegro, they came out and pressured us from the start, and obviously they shot the ball very well,” says Hurst.
“We need to be tougher, we need to guard the three point line a little better, and our communication was not where it needs to be tonight. So they’re three key areas that we need to fix up pretty quickly.”
Penina Davidson says that the team will need to focus on the next challenge.
“We got punched in the face first up; it’s pretty hard to take – but it’s pretty hard to win a game when the other team scores that many points and we only score 64. But it’s a good lesson for us and we’ve got two pretty good opportunities coming up [to win].”
Coach Hurst was pleased with what she saw from the four Tall Ferns debutants tonight, who all contributed in their limited minutes.
“I think we were pretty happy [with their effort tonight], it’s an unknown for our new players to come out there and play, and I thought they held their own. We’ll look to keep improving game to game; I’m happy with what they were able to produce in the limited time [they had on the court].”
Next up for New Zealand is a clash with Mexico; Thursday 22 August at 2.30pm NZT.
Stats:
New Zealand 64 – Tamilo 11 PTS & 6 REB | Davidson 11 PTS | Reed 9 PTS | Dale 8 PTS | C. Whittaker 7 PTS | Hokianga 5 PTS & 5 AST | McGoldrick 4 PTS & 5 REB | Tofaeono 4 PTS | Flavell 3 PTS | Fotu 2 PTS | L. Whittaker 5 REB
Montenegro 88 – Kovacevic 18 PTS & 7 REB | Bigovic 16 PTS & 6 REB | Zivkovic 11 PTS & 5 REB & 6 AST
Quarter scores: 14-16, 32-37, 47-66, 64-88
Full box score: https://bbnz.link/WCPQ_NZLvMNE
FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifier 2024, Mexico
Tuesday 20 August, 11.30am NZT – Montenegro vs New Zealand (lost 64-88)
Thursday 22 August, 2.30pm NZT – New Zealand vs Mexico
Friday 23 August, 11.30am NZT – Mozambique vs New Zealand
2degrees Tall Ferns Squad of 12, FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifier 2024
McKenna Dale, Whai (Tauihi)
Penina Davidson, Keilor Thunder (NBL1) / Northern Kahu (Tauihi)
Bailey Flavell, Harbour Basketball Association
Ella Fotu, Perth Eastern Suns (NBL1)
Pahlyss Hokianga, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Esra McGoldrick, Casey Cavaliers (NBL1) / Mainland Pouakai (Tauihi)
Tera Reed, Keilor Thunder (NBL1)
Ashlee Strawbridge, West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1)
Ritorya Tamilo, University of Hawaii (US)
Ella Tofaeono, Townsville Flames (NBL1) / UC Pirates (WNBL)
Charlotte Whittaker, South West Metro Pirates (NBL1) / University of Colorado (US)
Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga University (US)
