Tall Ferns announce final roster for WOQT
GIJON (2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - New Zealand have settled on their 12-player roster for the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nantes, France, while also naming Antonia Edmondson and Micaela Cocks as co-captains.
| New Zealand 12-player final roster for 2016 FIBA WOQT | |||
| Stella Beck | Micaela Cocks | Penina Davidson | Antonia Edmondson |
| Deena Kelsey Franklin | Jillian Harmon | Jordan Hunter | Chevannah Paalvast |
| Kalani Purcell | Erin Rooney | Josie Stockill | Lisa Wallbutton |
Following defeats to Belarus, Turkey and Japan in a four nations tournament in Minsk, Tall Ferns head coach Kennedy Kereama has elected to take experienced players, including 2008 Olympians Cocks and Jillian Harmon and high-scoring Edmondson along with talented youngsters Kalani Purcell, Penina Davidson and Chevannah Paalvast.
Guard Erin Rooney, who had been slowed by a knee injury that she picked up in February, has also made the team after proving her fitness in the three losses in Belarus.
New Zealand, who played at the WOQT four years ago in Turkey and lost their games to the Czech Republic and Argentina, will compete in this year's event against Cuba and hosts France in Group A. If they advance, they would face a team from Group B - Turkey, Cameroon or Argentina - for the right to play at the Rio de Janeiro Games. A loss in the Quarter-Final would leave the Tall Ferns needing two more wins at the WOQT to make it to Brazil.
New Zealand played in last year's FIBA Oceania Women's Championship, losing both games to Australia. They nevertheless showed a real fighting spirit that will be needed to have any success in France.
After falling 75-59 to Japan at the weekend, Kereama said: "It was a tough game but there were better signs today and some major improvements made. We secured 24 offensive rebounds and we were more aggressive and assertive in our offensive sets.
"Defensively we were good in patches but didn't meet our objectives in the containment of the smaller guards. We also didn't have a great shooting game and we need to continue to find ways to keep the scoreboard ticking over."
The Tall Ferns, despite resting Purcell, pushed Belarus hard in their opener before falling, 78-74. They then crashed to a 70-39 defeat to Turkey.
Next up, the Kiwis will wrap up their tour of Europe with games against Spain in Gijon and Oviedo before traveling to France for the WOQT.
FIBA
