NZL - Ferns chalk up “W”

TAIPEI (William Jones Cup) - Otago guard Suzie Bates was tough down the stretch and scored what proved the winning basket as a beaten-up NZ Tall Ferns opened their William Jones Cup campaign with a 51-50 win over Chinese Taipei White.

The national women’s team headed to Chinese Taipei with just nine fit players after injuries to point guard Angela Marino and centre Karlene Kingi, and were further depleted when starting point guard and captain Noni Wharemate ran into foul trouble and eventually left the game early.

The Kiwis got off to a slow start and trailed 13-20 after the opening quarter. But they rallied through the middle stages, leading by four points into the final term and holding off a determined home team in the closing minutes.

Deputising for Wharemate, Bates had six of New Zealand’s final 10 points, finishing with a personal return of 10 points (5/7 FG), three rebounds, two steals and two assists.

“It was nice to come away with a win, but there is a lot of improvement to be had,” said Tall Ferns assistant coach Leigh Gooding, who is guiding the team while head coach Mike McHugh attends his son’s wedding in England.

“We need to show poise and look to execute more efficiently.”

Forward Lisa Wallbutton led the Ferns with 11 points (5/9 FG, 1/1 FT) and nine rebounds as her team dominated the boards, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds. Centre Jess McCormack recorded another international “double double” with 10 points/14 rebounds and three blocks.

“It was good to get a win, but we got off to a slow start with poor defence and our offence breaking down,” observed Wallbutton. “It was great to out-rebound the opposition by 17, though.”

The Kiwis will have no margin for error in their second outing of the tournament … they face an Australian line-up that includes four from last year’s world champion roster. The Opals beat Japan Universities 120-59 on Day One and accounted for US Athletes In Action 72-40 yesterday.

 
Williams Jones Cup

NZ Tall Ferns 51 (Lisa Wallbutton 11, Jess McCormack 10, Suzie Bates 10, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe 10)
Chinese Taipei White 50 (Yi-Feng Chen 12)

Quarter 13-20
Halftime 28-29 (15-9)
Threequarter 43-39 (15-10)
Fulltime 51-50 (8-11)

Grant Chapman