NZL/AUS – Cambage takes center-stage as Opals cut down Tall Ferns

PORIRUA (Oceania Championship for Women)  - Australia put one foot in the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women after thumping New Zealand 98-48.

Led by new coach Carried Graf, the Australian who is the former boss of the Tall Ferns, the Opals destroyed their opponents in the opening leg of the Oceania Championship.

Lizzie Cambage, who played for the Aussies at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women earlier this summer, had 22 points and seven rebounds in the victory and after the final buzzer, Graf showered praise on the youngster.

“It would be silly to say that Lizzie is not the most exciting prospect in Australian basketball,” Graf said.

“We’re blessed with superstardom in the Opals with the likes of (Lauren) Jackson and (Penny) Taylor and (Kristi) Harrower and (Belinda) Snell but on the back of that, you look at Cambage and saw, ‘wow’.

“At 6ft 9in, she’s a body type that we haven’t had here and not many nations have around the world and even though we’ve got a long way to go with her, she’s incredibly exciting.”

Not everything was good about the first-leg triumph for the Australians, however, as Olympian Rohanee Cox suffered a knee injury in the first quarter and had to be stretchered off.

“We’ve got an early flight to Canberra and the doctors will make an evaluation tomorrow afternoon in Canberra,” Graf said.

“She’s in good hands now with our medical people but it’s not looking good.”

On a brighter note, the addition of Cambage to the Australia squad is an exciting development for a team that has all but qualified for next year’s big event in the Czech Republic.

The United States will be spitting fire when they arrive in Europe next summer to go after the world title after settling for bronze three years ago in Brazil.

First things first, however, for Graf and the Opals.

They will look to complete the two-game sweep of the Oceania Championship for Women when hosting the return leg on Wednesday.

FIBA