Cocks Gets It Done
Tagged in: Kiwis Abroad, Tall Ferns
Just when the Oregon Ducks women’s hoops team needed someone to steal a win on the road, Tall Ferns guard Micaela Cocks stepped up, literally.
Cocks stepped to the free-throw line, making five of six in the final minute as her game-high 22 points helped an under-manned Oregon hold on for a 69-68 win over San Jose State in San Jose on Saturday.
Four straight free-throws from the 22-year-old Harbour product gave the Ducks a 68-65 lead, before a San Jose three tied the game with 13 seconds remaining. Cocks was fouled on the next possession and made one of two to get the win.
Cocks shot 6-of-14 from the floor, including 3-of-8 behind the arc, while hitting on 7-of-8 freebies, with two rebounds and an assist in 35 minutes as Pac 10 contender Oregon began their regular season with a win.
Donna Lavea continued to put up big numbers for the Lambuth University Lady Eagles in NAIA play last week.
The Cantabrian posted 16 points (7/12 FG, 2/2 FT), five rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes in Lambuth’s 109-54 win over Lindenwood University on Friday, then went off for a big double-double of 19 points (7/9 FG, 5/8 FT), 13 rebounds, including seven offensive, and two assists in 16 minutes in a 93-91 win over University of St Francis on Saturday to win the Union University Classic in hometown Jackson, Tennesse.
Tall Ferns forward Jillian Harmon scored seven points (3/8 FG, 0/1 3pt, 1/2 FT), with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 31 minutes in Stanford’s 68-55 season-opening win over Minnesota on Friday in Palo Alto.
But Harmon’s nine points (3/9 FG, 1/2 3pt, 2/2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes could not prevent the second-ranked Cardinal losing 81-65 to 19th-ranked Baylor in Waco, Texas on Sunday.
Former Junior Tall Fern Kim Barnes put up big rebounding numbers as her UC-Irvine squad split their weekend double-header. Barnes went scoreless (0/3 FG) but pulled down 15 rebounds, along with two steals, an assist and block in 37 minutes in a 78-55 road loss to New Mexico State on Friday, she corralled 12 boards and blocked two shots in a 55-54 overtime win over UTEP in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday.
Kezia Kelly and the Washington State Cougars were also in the Lone Star State on Sunday, falling 82-69 to Texas Tech in Lubbock, with Kelly contributing two points (0/1 FG, 2/2 FT), three rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes off the bench.
At the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, former Tall Fern Rebecca Dew and the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine went winless in three games against Loyola Marymount, Toledo and Arizona. Dew had six points (2/7 FG, 2/2 FT) and four rebounds in nine minutes against Loyola (63-47), four points (2/8 FG), five rebounds and a block in 14 minutes against Toledo (67-61) and a single rebound in three minutes against Arizona (62-50).
Miranda Caldwell and Patrice McKenzie also saw their first action at NAIA Florida Southern over the weekend. Caldwell had eight points (3/7 FG, 1/2 3pt, 1/2 FT), three rebounds, two steals, an assist and block in 21 minutes and McKenzie played three scoreless minutes in a 97-55 win over Ave Marie on Saturday. Caldwell backed up with two points (1/3 FG) and an assist in three minutes in their 93-64 win over Alabama-Huntsville on Sunday.
In Europe, Tall Ferns forward Lisa Wallbutton remains unbeaten with Dexia Namur in both Belgian and European competition.
Wallbutton had a point (1/2 FT), a rebound and steal in three minutes in Dexia’s 92-84 win over Spirou Monceau on Monday, then compiled six points (3/9 FG), eight rebounds and an assist in 20 minutes as Dexia improved to 4-0 in group L of the women’s EuroCup on Thursday.
In Australia, Tall Ferns captain Aneka Kerr scored 10 points (3/5 FG, 4/6 FT) with 10 rebounds, a block and assist in 20 minutes and Kiwi team-mate Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe added seven points (3/6 FG, 1/4 3pt) in seven minutes as the Townsville Fire defeated the Logan Thunder 70-67 on Friday night to keep pace with the Canberra Capitals and Adelaide Lightning in the Women’s National Basketball League.
Tall Ferns forward Natalie Purcell had eight points (3/6 FG, 1/4 3pt, 1/1 FT), five rebounds, an assist and steal in 31 minutes for the Thunder.
National team point guard Angela Marino had an off shooting night but still managed to help the Lightning to a 90-62 rout of AIS on Saturday. Marino scored 12 points (3/11 FG, 2/9 3pt, 4/5 FT), with two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 31 minutes as Adelaide improved to 7-1.
Former Tall Fern Lisa Pardon compiled eight points (3/7 FG, 2/6 3pt), with a rebound, assist and steal in 18 minutes as the Bulleen Boomers rolled the Sydney Flames 75-58 on Friday. Another former Tall Fern, Adrianne Gilbert, played eight scoreless minutes, with a rebound and steal, for Sydney.
