Emerging Ferns Win Big
Tagged in: FIBA Oceania, National Teams
Like their male counterparts, the New Zealand Emerging Tall Ferns started their campaign at the FIBA Oceania Tournament in Saipan with a monster win on Monday.
Led by 15 points from New Plymouth’s Zoe Kensington and former Christchurch Sirens squad member Natalie Moore, the New Zealand U21 women rolled to a 92-27 win over Guam.
Kensington shot 6-of-12 from the field, including one three-pointer, while adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals to her stat-line, while Moore hit on 6-of-16 attempts and added four steals as NZ collected 30 steals among Guam’s 42 turnovers.
The Kiwis led 26-5 after the first quarter but were held to a 12-8 second quarter as they were up by 25 points at halftime. The lop-sided nature was restored in the third, New Zealand taking the second half 54-14.
Waikato’s Miriam Slatter provided 14 points (7/17 FG, 0/2 FT) and seven rebounds, while Nelson’s Jelena Vucinic was the other player in double digits with 11 points (5/15 FG, 0/4 3pt, 1/4 FT), six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Counties Manukau’s Jordan Hunter ended the game not far off a quadruple-double with six points, six boards, seven steals and eight assists, while Canterbury’s Miranda Caldwell pulled down 11 rebounds and Hutt Valley’s Sonja Milford nine.
Both the Emerging Tall Blacks and Emerging Tall Ferns will be in action on day three of the tournament, the women facing the host Northern Mariana Islands at 10am (NZ time) and the men against Australia at 12pm (NZ time).
FIBA Oceania Tournament
Monday, June 22
New Zealand Emerging Tall Ferns 92 (Zoe Kensington 15, Natalie Moore 15, Miriam Slatter 14, Jelena Vucinic 11) Guam 27 (Ritalynn Anderson 10)
1Q: 26-5
HT: 38-13 (12-8)
3Q: 66-18 (28-5)
FT: 92-27 (26-9)
