The U18 New Zealand women’s team have finished fifth at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China after beating Chinese Taipei 66-61 – in a hard fought contest for the rights to fifth and sixth place.
Remarkably the Junior Tall Ferns only made one three in the game but, courtesy of University of Hawaii freshman Rebecca Moors, it was made at a crucial time; with New Zealand ahead by just a single point (62-61), Moor’s triple came with just 47 seconds to play to build a four-point lead.
The Kiwis trailed 43-42 at three-quarter time and 49-44 with 7 minutes to play. Olivia Lassey and Temepara Walker reduced the deficit before Elise Carline put together a critical stretch of 8 points, 5 rebounds and a block in just under three minutes to grab the momentum.
Taipei fought back to again to make it a one-point game (60-59) with under two minutes remaining, but first Evie Leeson and then Moors would land the game winning points.
Walker (13 points and 5 steals) and Carline (12 points and 8 rebounds) enjoyed their best outings of the tournament while the consistent Moors produced a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds to go with 4 blocks. Lassey was the other double figure scorer with 10 points while Leeson and Tannika Leger-Walker scored 8 apiece.
Taipei won the rebounding count 55-48 and also had 22 assists to New Zealand’s 12, although the Kiwis forced 23 turnovers and reduced their own count to 19
Taipei were kept to just 31% (25/81) from the field and were only marginally better than the Kiwis from deep – 4 from 29 at 14%.
Despite being down a pair of starters due to injury in Kavannah Lene and Shawnessy Nordstrom, New Zealand made a solid start with Walker scoring 6 early points as the Kiwis took a 15-8 lead into the second quarter.
Moors took New Zealand into a double figure lead in the second period, while a Leger-Walker drive down the lane kept the margin at ten points. However Chinese Taipei, narrow losers to Japan 24-hours earlier, enjoyed a 10-3 run, and despite a brace of Walker free-throws were only 5 points behind at half-time (30-25).
Some robust defence and the first threes of the game helped Taipei take the lead at the 2:10 mark in the third period. Some nice pick and roll action between Leger-Walker and Leeson restored the advantage for the Kiwis, but with the last shot of the period Taipei took 42-43 lead.
With both teams tired after playing their fifth game in six days, New Zealand fought doggedly for the win – a gritty 24-18 fourth quarter did the trick for coach Josh Thompson and his team.
Stats:
New Zealand 66 – Walker 13 PTS & 5 STL | Carline 12 PTS & 8 REB | Moors 11 PTS & 12 REB & 4 BLK | Lassey 10 PTS | Leger-Walker 8 PTS & 4 AST | Leeson 8 PTS | Bright 2 PTS | Stowers 2 PTS & 7 REB
Chinese Taipei 61 – Y Yeh 12 | X Liao 11
Box Score: https://bbnz.link/U18WAC_NZLvTPE
Quarter Scores: 15-8, 15-17, 12-18, 24-18
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 – WON 70-50
NZL v Korea – LOST 86-66
NZL v Chinese Taipei – WON 66-61
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
