In their second meeting inside 48 hours the 2degrees Tall Ferns Select team were beaten 92-50 by Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
Despite the scoreline it was a much improved New Zealand showing with a herculean efort from Lauren Whittaker the standout performance. The Cantabrian forward scored 20 points in the opening game and will return to Gonzaga University with her reputation enhanced after amassing 33 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steal and 1 block in 32 minutes of action against the number six ranked women’s national team in the world.
Emphasising what a heavy offensive load Whittaker carried was the fact that Ella Bradley was the next highest scorer for the Kiwis with 5 points.
Again played in front of close to a five figure crowd decked in red New Zealand did a much better job of containing the much vaunted Japanese offence that was held to 27% from the three-point arc. In comparison New Zealand Select made 5 from 19 threes at 26%.
Despite the Kiwis out rebounding their opponents 41-37 Japan were able to win the points in the paint dual 42-26.
Coach Natalie Hurst sent out a similar starting line-up to game one with Eva Langton instated to join Reed, McGoldrick, Whittaker and Tara Manumaleuga.
McGoldrick scored the first point of the game and with Whittaker adding a fist full New Zealand trailed 8-6 at the mid-point of the first. Hunter scored immediately after her arrival on court although Japan finished the opening frame with 13-5 run despite a three from Whittaker and a driving finish from Reed.
26-13 down at the quarter break threes from Whittaker and Manumaleuga pulled New Zealand to within five (28-23) and Japan needed a timeout.
The Kiwis were on the end of a 9-0 Japanese run on the resumption and a 19-6 ride to half-time. The exemplary Whittaker had 21 points at the interval with Japan ahead 47-29.
Hampered after the break by an injury to McGoldrick the Select were doing a sound job defensively but were held to just 9 points in the third and trailed 70-38 at the last break.
Though visibly tiring the Kiwis stuck to the task admirably in the fourth with Whittaker taking her tally into the thirties and Ella Bradley scoring her first points in senior international basketball.
Tall Ferns Interim Head Coach Natalie Hurst and her staff will now prepare for a FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifier Series in Mexico next month. It remains to be seen which members of the Tall Ferns Select Team will be called on to make the trip to the eight-team tournament in Mexico City.
For Japan their next assignment is a meeting with favourites USA in an opening round game at the Paris Olympics next month.
Stats:
New Zealand Select – Whittaker 33 PTS, 12 REBS & 5 ASSIST | Bradley 5 PTS | Reed 4 PTS | Manumaleuga 3 PTS | Hunter 2 PTS | Langton 2 PTS | McGoldrick 1 PT, 6 REBS & 4 ASSists
Japan – M Takada 23 PTS|Y Miyazawa 17 PTS
Quarter Scores: 13-24, 16-23, 9-23, 12-22
2degrees Tall Ferns Select Team
Aimee Book
Ella Bradley, University of Texas at Tyler (NCAA Division II)
Grace Hunter, California State University, Bakersfield (NCAA Division I)
Waiata Jennings, Baylor University, (NCAA Division I)
Eva Langton, Norwood Flames, (NBL 1 Central)
Tara Manumaleuga, Texas Christian University (NCAA Division I)
Esra McGoldrick, Mainland Pouākai
Lilly Parke, Fairleigh Dickinson University (NCAA Division I)
Tera Reed, Keilor Thunder (NBL 1 South)
Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga University (NCAA Division I)
