New Zealand were defeated 111-44 by Australia in their second FIBA Asian Championship game in Bengaluru, India on Wednesday night.
The Australians demonstrated why they are ranked Number 2 in the World, with slick offense and stifling defence to dominate from start to finish. That smothering defence took New Zealand out of their offensive flow with only North Harbour forward Florence Dallow (10 points) registering double figures. Forward Vitolia Tuilave scored 8 points and Aria Cowley had 6 points.
New Zealand now face India in 24 hours time, in a must-win fixture if they are to keep their World Championship hopes alive.
Australia scored with their first possession as did Dallow with New Zealand’s initial offensive foray. However, despite a made jumper from Mackenzie Chatfield, the Kiwis found themselves 19-7 in arrears after just four minutes.
Tuilave then found success on three occasions from an almost identical spot around the free-throw line but despite her six points, the Australian advantage had climbed to 31-13 at quarter time.
Employing a zone defence, and with Chatfield and Allyah Leusogi-Ape knocking down threes, New Zealand enjoyed a good spell at the start of the second to marginally reduce the Australian lead.
That success was short-lived however as, led by athletic forward Nyadiew Puoch, Australia stretched their lead to a commanding 61-24 at half-time – the Aussies making 25 of 40 (77%) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. Tuilave led the New Zealand scoring at the break with 8 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting.
Australia opened the second half with an 8-0 run, prompting New Zealand Head Coach Natalie Visger to call a timeout.
Lilly Parke earned herself a trip to the foul line on the resumption, but it was almost 5 minutes before the Kiwis scored their first field goal of the half – an and-1 play from Leusogi-Ape.
The Waikato duo of Maia Chandler and Cowley made much needed scores but the Australian lead was a massive 89-34 at the three-quarter mark. Dallow and Chandler knocked down a triple apiece in the fourth but they were merely consolation points as Australia cruised to victory.
New Zealand face hosts India on Thursday (tip-off 00.30am Friday September 9) needing a victory to keep their World Cup ambitions alive.
New Zealand 44 Australia 111
New Zealand: Dallow 10 PTS | Tuilave 8 PTS | Cowley 6 PTS
Australia: I Borlase 16, S Burrows 14
New Zealand Schedule: (times given are local in New Zealand).
Tuesday 6 September LOST 81-64 v Korea
Wednesday 7 September LOST 111-44 v Australia
Thursday 8 September v India, tip-off 00.30am (Friday September 9)
Friday 9 September Semi-Final Play-in game (Time and opponent TBC)
The Asian Championship doubles as a qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIBA U19 World Championship. The top four teams in India qualify for the World Championship in Madrid, Spain in July 2023.
All games will be shown live via https://nz.basketball/tv/
Links to the streaming, rosters, statistics and live stats can be found here: https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18awomen/2022
NZ U18 Women’s National Team
Maia Chandler – Waikato Basketball
Mackenzie Chatfield – Harbour Basketball
Aria Cowley – Waikato Basketball
Florence Dallow – Harbour Basketball
Jyordanna Davey – Hutt Valley Basketball
Kate Herman – Canterbury Basketball
Allyah Leusogi-Ape – Basketball Auckland
Maddie Morrow – Canterbury Basketball
Sydney Neale – Waikato Basketball
Lilly Parke – Basketball Auckland
Lauren Tewhata – Wellington Basketball Association
Vitolia Tuilave – Waitakere West Auckland Basketball
Selected but unavailable due to injury:
Alana Paewai – Waikato Basketball
Staff
Head Coach – Natalie Visger
Assistant Coach – Shay Haira
Assistant Coach – Liam Connelly
Team Manager – Katherine Wills
Physio – Shannon Spicer
Team Doctor – Jamie Lockyer
