Purcell Boosts Thunder
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
Tall Fern Natalie Purcell helped expansion team Logan Thunder to a winning debut as the Australian WNBL tipped off last weekend.
Purcell, filling an import spot in Brisbane after the demise of the Christchurch Sirens, impressed with 18 points (6/13 FG, 3/8 3pt, 3/5 FT), seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 23 minutes as Logan defeated Perth Lynx 96-74 at home.
The loss capped off a tough Queensland road trip for the Lynx, who have finished bottom of the table the past two seasons. The previous night, they had fallen 74-96 to the Townsville Fire, with New Zealand captain Aneka Kerr recording a double double of 10 points/11 rebounds for the home side.
Fellow Kiwi Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe also hit a trey in her four minutes for the Fire.
Further south, former Fern Lisa Pardon had 10 points (4/9 FG, 2/4 3pt), three assists and a rebound in 25 minutes as the Bulleen Boomers fell 73-89 to Canberra, while national team point guard Angela Marino (nine points, three assists, 36 minutes) guided defending champions Adelaide Lightning to a narrow 74-72 victory over Sydney in a rematch of last year’s finalists.
In men’s action across the ditch, Tall Black forward Mika Vukona provided exactly what the South Dragons envisaged when he transferred there this season - a double double of 11 points (5/6 FG, 1/2 FT)/10 rebounds in 24 minutes of a 107-90 win over Gold Coast Blaze.
International team-mate Nick Horvath contributed eight points (3/5 FG, 2/2 FT), five rebounds and three blocks for the Dragons, while the man he ousted from the Tall Blacks - Casey Frank - had nine points (4/9 FG, 1/3 3pt), four rebounds and two assists for the Blaze.
Gold Coast, also featuring NZ captain Pero Cameron, have yet to record a win after four games.
The Melbourne team recorded their second road win of the round and improved to 4-2 for the season when they overcame Wollongong Hawks 114-95 two days later. Horvath had eight points (4/6 FG), seven rebounds, an assist and a block, while Vukona compiled six points (2/6 FG, 2/2 FT), three assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block for the Dragons.
Tall Black point guard Lindsay Tait logged 20 minutes for the Hawks, chipping in with nine points (4/6 FG, 1/1 3pt), four rebounds and two assists.
In the Spanish LEB Gold, Tall Black centre Craig Bradshaw was the standout performer for Grupo Begar Leon as they suffered their first loss of the season, 77-86 to Clinicas Rincon Axarquia. Bradshaw had 19 points (6/11 FG, 1/1 3pt, 4/4 FT), nine rebounds and an assist in 29 minutes as his club fell to 2-1.
In the Baltic Basketball League, Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic could not quite guide his Estonian club Kalev Cramo to a huge road upset over Lithuanian champions Zalgiris, falling short 74-78 in the opening round.
Kalev Cramo, featuring former NBL Most Valuable Player Josh Pace, led by nine points after the opening period and still led 56-51 into the final quarter, but finally lost their advantage at 70-71 and conceded the final four points of the contest. They lost another 69-71 road thriller to Latvian side Ventspils in Round Two of the BBL.
Wellington Saints forward Brendon Polyblank helped Lausanne to a 70-69 win over Boncourt in the opening round of the Swiss Ligue Nationale de Basket, contributing 14 points (5/9 FG, 1/4 3pt, 1/3 FT), four rebounds and two assists.
