The U18 New Zealand women’s team will rue their slow start, after they had their World Cup dream extinguished at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China on Friday when they were beaten 86-66 by Korea.
With the top four finishers at the Asia Cup guaranteed spots at the 2025 U19 World Cup, the Preliminary Semi-Final was a must-win game for the Junior Tall Ferns. However the outcome was a disappointing one for the Kiwis, doubly so given they were outscored by 20 points – the eventual losing margin – in a forgettable opening quarter.
Rebecca Moors again led the way for the Kiwis with 13 points – on 6/8 from the field – and 8 rebounds, while Shawnee Nordstrom dropped 12 points (3/7 3PG) and Evie Leeson added 7 boards to her 10 points.
Korea shot the ball very well, particularly from beyond the arc where they made 12 from 25 from deep at a 48% clip. New Zealand struggled in comparison, shooting a cool 29% (5/17) from deep and 36% (22/62) overall from the field.
The Kiwis won the rebounding battle 46-29 but turnovers were again their Achilles heel; the Junior Tall Ferns coughing up 28 possessions compared Korea’s 12. The Ferns were also dealt a major blow in the lead up to the game with Kavannah Lene, an All-Star Five selection and New Zealand’s leading scorer at last year’s U17 Oceania Championships, ruled out due to a leg injury she suffered against Indonesia.
Reflecting the defensive intensity being employed by both teams, just 2 points were scored in the opening three minutes and it was a further minute before New Zealand – thanks to Moors – got on the scoreboard. After Arna Bright added a triple and Temepara Walker a pair of free-throws, Korea embarked on a 13-0 run; Annika Scott breaking the Kiwi’s scoring drought, but Korea able to forge ahead to a decisive 32-12 first quarter lead.
New Zealand were much improved in the second period as they found some offensive fluidity; Nordstrom scoring the first points of the quarter and soon after made an arching deep three. Olivia Lassey struck with a couple of penetrative drives while Leeson and Moors both had success inside. However, New Zealand had a mountain to climb at the interval – trailing 54-33.
Despite their best efforts, the Kiwis couldn’t put a dent in the deficit in the second half. In the lower scoring third quarter, New Zealand again enjoyed parity as Moors took her tally into double digits – Korea ahead 69-47 at the last break. Nordstrom’s 4-point play was the highlight of the final period; one the Kiwis, to their credit, won 19-17 – meaning that with the exception of that first quarter, points were shared at 54 apiece.
New Zealand will now meet Japan or Chinese Taipei in the 5th/6th classification game on Saturday.
Stats:
New Zealand 66 – Moors 13 PTS & 8 REBS | Nordstrom 12 PTS | Leeson 10 PTS & 7 REBS| Leger-Walker 8 PTS & 4 AST | Lassey 7 PTS & 4 AST | Bright 5 PTS | Walker 4 PTS | Carline 4 PTS | Scott 2 PTS | Gilbert 1 PT
Korea 86 – M Lee 25 | H Jeong 16
Box Score: https://bbnz.link/U18WAC_NZLvsKOR
Quarter Scores: 12-32, 21-22, 14-15, 19-17
FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup – New Zealand Schedule & 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 Japan or Chinese Taipei on Saturday 29 June (Time to be advised)
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
