Emerging Ferns Crack 100
Tagged in: FIBA Oceania, National Teams
Triple figure scores don’t happen often for New Zealand women’s basketball teams, let alone a three figure margins.
It all happened on Tuesday as the Emerging Tall Ferns routed the host Northern Mariana Islands 139-27 on day three of the FIBA Oceania Tournament in Saipan.
Waikato’s Miriam Slatter, Canterbury’s Miranda Caldwell and New Plymouth’s Zoe Kensington all scored 20-plus points as New Zealand improved to 2-0, with their second big win of the tournament.
Slatter scored more points than Northern Mariana Islands players combined, pouring in a game-high 29 points in just 16 minutes, capitalising on many close-range baskets to shoot 14-of-17 from the field. She also had nine rebounds and four steals.
Caldwell posted a double-double with 23 points (10/15 FG, 0/1 3pt, 3/6 FT) and 11 rebounds, to go with five assists and five steals. Kensington provided 21 points (10/19 FG, 0/1 3pt, 1/1 FT), eight steals, six assists and four boards for the dominant Kiwis.
New Zealand made 50 percent of their 121 shot attempts and were dominant at both ends of the court. They picked off 41 steals as a team among Northern Marianas 60 turnovers, dished out 34 assists and owned the rebounding 69-28.
Three other players scored in double digits, Natalie Moore with 16 points, Pip Connell with 12 and Sonya Milford with 11 points. Milford had a double-double with 10 boards, while Emma Gillespie pulled in a team-high 12 rebounds and Jordan Hunter dropped 10 assists.
The Emerging Tall Ferns meet Australia, in what will be a completely opposite proposition, at 8pm (NZ time) on Tuesday.
While the points flowed for the New Zealand women, it was the reverse for the Kiwi men in Saipan.
After an opening win over Guam on Sunday, the Emerging Tall Blacks (1-1) fell back to earth with a 69-47 loss to Australia on day three.
In a low-scoring game, both teams shot similar percentages from the floor of just over 30 percent but rebounding proved the difference, where New Zealand were out-rebounded 50-27.
Otago’s Luke Aston led the Emerging Tall Blacks with 14 points (5/7 FG, 3/3 3pt, 1/2 FT) and six rebounds in 15 minutes, while Porirua’s Daniel Green and Waitakere City’s Duane Bailey each added 10 points.
Joe Maiava pulled down a team-high seven boards, while Jordan Mills had four assists for New Zealand, who trailed by 11 points after the first quarter, managed to win the second period 11-9, but slowly fell further behind throughout the second half.
The Jeff Green-coached team has an immediate chance for redemption later on Tuesday, against New Caledonia at 6pm (NZ time).
FIBA Oceania Tournament
Tuesday, June 23
Emerging Tall Ferns 139 (Miriam Slatter 29, Miranda Caldwell 23, Zoe Kensington 21, Natalie Moore 16, Pip Connell 12, Sonya Milford 11) Northern Mariana Islands 27 (Concepcion Camacho 16)
1Q: 31-4
HT: 59-11 (28-7)
3Q: 107-13 (48-2)
FT: 139-27 (32-14)
Emerging Tall Ferns vs Northern Mariana Islands Box Score
Australia 69 (Sean Mullan 15, Reece Maxwell 15, Jeromie Hill 14) Emerging Tall Blacks 47 (Luke Aston 14, Daniel Green 10, Duane Bailey 10)
1Q: 19-8
HT: 28-19 (9-11)
3Q: 47-32 (19-13)
FT: 69-47 (22-15)
