Ferns To The Fore
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
Tall Ferns forward Natalie Purcell and point guard Angela Marino played leading hands as their teams tipped off the Australian WNBL season with victories.
Purcell scored 13 points (5/11 FG, 1/4 3pt, 2/2 FT) , adding eight rebounds, three steals, three assists and a block in 23 minutes as Logan Thunder overwhelmed the Australian Institute of Sport 79-42 at home.
Fellow Kiwi Suzie Bates logged 14 minutes for the Thunder for five points (1/3 FG, 1/2 3pt, 2/2 FT), three rebounds and an assist.
Meanwhile, Marino had 15 points (3/11 FG, 2/7 3pt, 7/8 FT), eight assists and two rebounds as Adelaide Lightning topped Sydney University Flames 86-73 at home.
Tall Ferns forward Lisa Wallbutton also logged 19 minutes for Adelaide, contributing nine points (3/6 FG, 3/4 FT), two rebounds and a block.
Bulleen Boomers beat defending champions Canberra Capitals 88-73 on the road with Kiwi guard Lisa Pardon scoring two points (1/2 FG) in seven minutes.
Ferns guard Toni Edmondson had seven points (3/10 FG, 1/2 FT), five rebounds, one steal and one block as her Dandenong Rangers fell 55-70 to Bendigo at home.
In the Australian men’s national league, Tall Black Mika Vukona compiled a double-double of 10 points (4/8 FG, 2/3 FT) and 13 rebounds, adding an assist in 23 minutes as his Gold Coast Blaze beat Wollongong Hawks 84-78 at home.
NZ forward Pero Cameron continued to work his way back to fitness after an ankle injury kept him out of international basketball this year. He logged 10 minutes for four points (1/3 FG, 2/4 FT), a rebound and an assist for the Blaze.
Kiwi veteran Phill Jones helped Cairns Taipans to an 89-71 win over Perth Wildcats at home. Jones scored 12 points (3/6 FG, 2/4 3pt, 4/4 FT) and added three steals, three assists and a rebound in 27 minutes.
