Marino Prevails
Tagged in: Kiwis Abroad, Tall Ferns
Point guard Angela Marino earned bragging rights over Tall Fern team-mate Lisa Pardon as Adelaide Lightning defeated Bendigo Spirit 101-76 on the road in the Australian Defence Force WNBL.
Marino lit the Spirit up for 15 points (3/5 FG. 1/1 3pt, 8/10 FT), two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 23 minutes, while Pardon had three treys in her nine points, two rebounds and an assist.
The result leaves Adelaide clear at the top of the table with a 17-3 record, while Bendigo fell out of the top four on 10-11.
In US college play, Tall Fern centre Jess McCormack returned from concussion to inspire University of Washington to a 74-59 win over University of Arizona.
McCormack had missed three games – all losses – after a knock to the head in a win over University of Southern California two weeks ago, but came off the bench for 15 points (4/9 FG, 7/8 FT), eight rebounds and a steal before fouling out in 23 minutes.
The result saw the Huskies improve to 8-13 for the season and 3-6 in the PAC-10 Conference.
Tall Fern guard Micaela Cocks had 10 points (3/7 FG, 2/4 3pt, 2/2 FT), five assists, four rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes, but committed six turnovers as University of Oregon fell 59-63 on the road to UCLA.
The Ducks are 10-9 for the season, 4-4 in the PAC-10 Conference.
Tall Fern Aroha Jennings had eight points (2/4 FG, 1/1 3pt, 3/4 FT), five rebounds and three assists in 17 minutes as University of Memphis lost 62-75 to University of Texas El Paso, falling to 5-13 for the season and 2-3 in Conference USA.
Rotorua centre Te Awhina Aranui was in a record-breaking mood for Cascade College, but her team could not respond with a win, bowing 56-71 to The College of Idaho.
Aranui grabbed a conference record 28 rebounds – 15 at the offensive end – to set a new school career record of 541 boards, achieved in just 47 games. She added 12 pointes (5/15 FG, 2/6 FT), three assists, three blocks and two steals, but committed seven turnovers as the Thunderbirds slumped to 10-11 for the season and 3-8 in the Cascade Conference.
Kiwi point guard Amanda Harris continued her hot shooting from the arc to guide College of the Siskiyous to an 89-62 win over Feather River College.
Harris had 11 points (4/5 FG, 3/3 3pt), nine assists, three rebounds and a steal as the Siskiyous improved to 17-5 for the season. Not known as a prolific shooter before leaving New Zealand last year, she has now converted 28/60 3pt (46.6%) for the season, while averaging 7.8 points, 6.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
Junior Tall Fern Kezia Kelly had six points (3/5 FG), two rebounds, two assists and two steals in 31 minutes as a starter as Washington State University fell 40-59 to Arizona State University. The Cougars are 3-17 for the season and yet to win from nine games in the PAC-10 Conference.
