FIBA Basketball

    Joyce names Opals squad for Tall Ferns series

    CANBERRA (2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship) - Australia coach Brendan Joyce has settled on his 12 players to face the New Zealand Tall Ferns in the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship. The winner of

    CANBERRA (2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship) - Australia coach Brendan Joyce has settled on his 12 players to face New Zealand's Tall Ferns in the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship.

    The winner of the two-game series, which tips off in Melbourne 15 August and concludes in Tauranga two days later, will clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

    The loser will play at the FIBA Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament.

    The goal is to always try and have a balance – not only for success now but also into the future. - Joyce

    Veterans Suzy Batkovic, Laura Hodges, Rachel Jarry and Belinda Snell join Natalie Burton and Tessa Lavey in the squad.

    Sara Blicavs, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Alice Kunek, Tess Madgen, Stephanie Talbot and Kelly Wilson complete the team.

    Blicavs, Ebzery and Talbot only made their Opals' debuts in May during the team's tour of Europe against Serbia, Italy and Spain.

    "We've selected a group that's made a huge commitment and who also had an impact throughout camps and on tour and who have represented themselves well," Joyce said.

    "We've put together a very, very competitive team."

    Australia are flying high and looking to build on the momentum of last year's performance at the FIBA Women's World Championship, where they clinched a third-place finish.

    ...

    Australia final roster for 2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship: Suzy Batkovic, Sara Blicavs, Natalie Burton, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Laura Hodges, Rachel Jarry, Alice Kunek, Tessa Lavey, Tess Madgen, Stephanie Talbot, Belinda Snell, Kelly Wilson.

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