New Zealand lost 102-34 to USA in their second game at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Hungary on Sunday night – but not without producing a spirited showing against the formidable USA team.
New Zealand went toe to toe with the number one ranked team in the world in the opening quarter with Maia Jones, Tannika Leger-Walker, Ritorya Tamilo and Lily Taulelei all making scores – 12 points apiece at the end of the first.
The pressure on the ball from the Americans went up a notch in the second and with the turnover count increasing, the Kiwis were down 35-21 at half-time – Jones with ten of New Zealand’s points.
Leger-Walker’s jump shot got the Kiwi scoring underway in the second half and although Jones made her fourth triple in the game soon after the American lead began to climb; 52-26 at the mid-point of the third and 63-26 with ten minutes to play.
Boasting nine players 6-foot plus, the pressure on the boards from the Americans was relentless and they were able to garner multiple second and third chance opportunities to stretch their advantage.
Amy-Lee Pateman connected from deep and Ivy Brown from inside but it was largely one-way traffic in the final quarter – the Americans height advantage illustrated by a rebounding count of 74-29, the offensive count an eye-popping 40-4.
Teams now have a day off before New Zealand face Mali in their final Group D game on Tuesday.
New Zealand 34 – Jones 13pts (4/5 3PG) | Leger-Walker 7pts | Brown 6pts | Pateman 3pts | Tamilo 2pts & 7rebs | Taulelei 2pts
USA 102 – H Hildalgo 16pts
New Zealand are drawn in Group D alongside World number one ranked USA, Germany (#11) and Mali (#15). New Zealand have a world ranking of 21.
Full fixtures and statistics can be found at: https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u17women/2022
New Zealand Schedule: (times given are local in New Zealand)
- Sat 9 July vs Germany –– (L 68-35) Re-watch at nz.basketball/tv
- Sun 10 July vs USA – (L 102-34) – watch at nz.basketball/tv
- Tues 12 July vs Mali – (6am Weds 13 July) – watch at nz.basketball/tv
U17 Women’s National Team Roster
Ivy Brown – North Canterbury
Layla J Cameron – New Zealand
Waimanu Clarken – Basketball Auckland
Maia Jones – Nelson Basketball
Cassidy Lacey-Rameka – Rotorua Basketball Association
Tannika Leger-Walker – Waikato Basketball
Carly Ohia – Rotorua Basketball Association
Amy-Lee Pateman – Harbour Basketball
Ashlyn Rean – North Canterbury
Ritorya Tamilo – Basketball Auckland
Lily Taulelei – Wellington Basketball Association
Karereatua Williams – Canterbury
Head Coach – Lori McDaniel
Assistant Coach – Pina Lissaman
Assistant Coach – Ryan Dubbledam
Team Manager – Jemma Lawton
Physio – Kylie Cox
Team Doctor – Dr Kaylie Baker
About The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022
The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 features the world’s top 16 women’s U17 national team with 56 games played across 9 days from July 9-17 in Debrecen, Hungary.
As event hosts, Hungary gained automatic entry. The remaining 15 teams qualified through regional U16 championships with 2 from Africa, 5 from Europe, 4 from the Americas, and 4 from Asia – with New Zealand earning their place after securing a spot in the recent FIBA U16 Asian Championship.
