APIA (Samoa) - Day One of the FIBA Women’s U17 Oceania Cup tipped off in Apia with strong opening statements from regional powerhouses Australia and New Zealand, both recording confident wins over Fiji and the Cook Islands.
Australia opened their campaign with a commanding 115-28 victory against Fiji, showcasing relentless defensive pressure and an impressive depth of scoring that saw all 12 players record at least two field goals.
Australia forced 41 turnovers, converting them into 53 points off turnovers, while piling up 76 points in the paint behind their transition game and structured ball movement.
Seven players reached double figures, led by Eliza Ashby, who had 13 points and followed by Sitaya Fagan and Olivia Olechnowicz, who both scored 12. Isabel Smith, Rebecca Donnelly, Madison Ryan each finished with 11 points while Taryn Bond scored 10 points.
Aspen Crase was one point short of double-digit scoring but collected a team-high 15 rebounds.
"It was awesome. I just had so much fun out there with all my teammates."
"They’re awesome - the amount of laughs we have together, they’re just genuinely nice people. Even on the court, they’re phenomenal. Their skill level is through the roof," said Olechnowicz.
Olechnowicz, whose family has Polish heritage, has seen major growth this year after joining the Centre of Excellence.
"Going to CoE this year, my IQ off-court has gotten so much better. Understanding the game - knowing more about it - it[s just skyrocketed," she said. "I'm excited to keep developing and keep using it."
She added that the team’s plan moving forward is simple:
"Keep working hard, stay humble, stay true to ourselves, and do whatever the coach says," she laughed.
Australia also enjoyed a warm welcome from local fans in Apia.
"The hospitality is so warm. Everyone in the stadium is like, 'How are you guys?' It's awesome," Olechnowicz said. "At our hotel, there are these stray cats which is just lovely. It's great - I love it."
As the tournament progresses, she is also excited for personal time with family after the event:
"I'm going home with the family. Lots of Polish relatives coming over," she shared.
And she made sure to send a personal message:
"Shout out to my auntie who always helps me mentally, just supporting me through everything."
Fiji showed resilience despite the margin, led by Ana Maiwiwiriri with 7 points; Zara Suka with 5 points and 3 rebounds; Trinity Vakacavu with 6 points; while Bulou Anawaite Rasova battled on the boards with 7 rebounds.
New Zealand opened their tournament with a confident 95–58 victory over the Cook Islands, displaying sharp shooting, strong rebounding, and excellent ball movement with 24 assists.
Sahara Katene led the way with an impressive 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including three made threes. Playing in her first-ever game for New Zealand, she embraced the moment.
"It's my first time playing for New Zealand, so I really wanted to go out with a bang," Katene said. "I think I put my name on the mark. It's good playing with my friends - I've played with these girls for a while. Great to be out here with them and play for my country."
Katene also highlighted the performance of teammate Kiana Brown, who added 12 points and solid defense.
"Big shoutout to Kiana. She's from the South Island - her area's not really well-known, and the way she played today was a big part of why we won. She played really well."
New Zealand’s balanced offense also featured Isabella Gillard with 9 points and 7 rebounds and Kahsia Bailey-Nowell with 9 points and 8 rebounds as all 12 players saw meaningful court time.
New Zealand also enjoyed the unique experience of playing against familiar faces.
"One of my teammates from [back home] is on the Cook Islands team," Katene shared. "It was a bit hard going up against her, but great to see their development. I've never gotten to play against some of them - it was really good to see."
Reflecting on Samoa’s conditions, she added:
"It's really hot, but I'll get a nice tan," she laughed. "You have to adapt."
"It's all about basketball and all about life, just learning and seeing what else comes from it."
New Zealand's plan is to stay focused moving forward:
"We’re going to go into every game with confidence, study the other teams, and just play our game. Thankfully, we've been able to do that."
For the Cook Islands, Aphrodite Piri led with 16 points and 5 rebounds, while Latysha Iotua added 11 points and Hinekawa Esler contributed 7 points and 6 rebounds.
The FIBA U17 Oceania Cup and FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup is being hosted by the Samoa National Basketball Association in Apia from December 8 to 13. The event is supported by the Government of Samoa under the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, with the two teams qualifying for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup and FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
All games are livestreamed via the FIBA YouTube Channel in collaboration with BluWave Media.
FIBA