The U16 New Zealand Women’s team have bounced back from their opening game loss against Japan, defeating Samoa 81-50 at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship in Jordan on Wednesday.
New Zealand had a great deal of trouble with their Samoan opponents in pool play at the Oceania Champs last year, only winning by eight points. And in the first fifteen minutes of this encounter, it appeared that another tight contest would play out.
However a dominant spell either side of half-time propelled the Kiwis to victory. From being just five points ahead midway through the second period, New Zealand outscored their opponents 42-18 over the next fifteen minutes to take control of the contest. New Zealand hit 10 three pointers and shot 40% from the field overall, while holding Samoa to just 25% from the floor.
New Zealand enjoyed major contributions from Keriana-Marie Hippolite and Anaiya Nelson with 14 points apiece, while forward Jennifer Mailei strung together a quality stat-line of 13 points (on 6 from 6 shooting), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block.
A Pahlyss Hokianga triple gave New Zealand a 4-2 lead in a frenetic opening spell. The enthusiastic Samoan team grabbed back the lead, before Anaiya Nelson converted from deep and Bailey Flavell scored an uncontested layup following a steal.
Samoa would lead again 14-13, before Nelson (4/7 3PG) landed her second and third triples of the period to give the Kiwis a 20-14 quarter-time lead. A couple of baskets from Hawkes Bay wing Graecyn Parahi kept New Zealand in the lead, although a Samoan triple meant New Zealand were only 26-21 ahead.
That changed quickly as New Zealand unleashed a 15-2 run, with Flavell, Hippolite (3/7 3PG) and Nelson converting from deep, to head to the interval with a 41-24 lead. Six straight points from Jennifer Mailei at the beginning of the second half meant the New Zealand lead was approaching twenty points (47-39) although the response from Samoa was immediate from impressive point guard Peata Manumaleuga.
Tauranga guard Emma Rogers pushed the margin beyond twenty points with a penetrative drive, before Cassidy Thompson and Hana Patterson opened their scoring accounts – New Zealand ahead 68-39 at three-quarter time. The fourth quarter was never in doubt; with a drive and dish from Hippolite for a Mailei score the highlight of the period as the Kiwis eased their way to victory.
New Zealand now have a day off before facing China on Friday. It’s a game that in effect becomes a quarter-final, as the winner will secure second place behind Japan in Pool B and advance to the semi-finals – making it a must-win for the Kiwis.
The Asian Champs serves as a qualifier event for the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, with the top four teams heading to Mexico in July 2024. Meanwhile three teams (the last two ranked teams from Asia and the last ranked team from Oceania) will be relegated to Division B at the completion of this tournament.
Stats:
New Zealand 80 – Hippolite 14 PTS & 4 AST & 3 STL | Nelson 14 PTS | Mailei 13 PTS & 6 REB & 4 AST | Flavell 9 PTS |Thompson 7 PTS & 3 STL | Hickey 6 PTS | Hokianga 5 PTS | Rogers 4 PTS | Parahi 4 PTS | Paterson 2 PTS | Douglas-Karauna 2 PTS
Samoa 51 – C Hiko 14 PTS | Manumaleuga 12 PTS | L Hiko 9 PTS
Box Score: http://bbnz.link/ppr3l
Quarter scores: 14-20, 24-41, 39-68, 51-80
FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championships – NZ Draw & Results
11 July – NZL vs Japan (Lost 44-75)
12 July – Samoa vs NZL (Won 80-51)
14 July – NZL vs China, 1pm local time / 10.00pm NZT. Watch here.
FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship Squad – NZ
Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna, Rotorua Basketball Association
Rica-Chanel Enriquez-Paea, NZ
Bailey Flavell, Harbour Basketball
Sophia Hickey, NZ
Keriana Hippolite, NZ
Pahlyss Hokianga, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Jennifer Mailei, NZ
Anaiya Nelson, Waikato Basketball
Graecyn Parahi, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Hana Paterson, Waikato Basketball
Emma Rogers, Tauranga City Basketball
Cassidy Thomson, NZ
