TUR - Opals complete sweep of Tall Ferns to reach Turkey 2014

CANBERRA (FIBA Oceania Championship for Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - Australia have joined the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women party.

The Opals, winners in 2006 and Quarter-Finalists in 2010, punched their ticket to next year's event in Turkey with a 2-0 sweep of the New Zealand Tall Ferns in the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship.

Under the leadership of coach Brendan Joyce, the Aussies travelled to Auckland for the opening encounter and beat New Zealand, 66-50.

Lauren Jackson had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Australians.

They then hosted the second game in Canberra and romped to an 84-66 triumph.

The veteran Jackson again led the Opals with 21 points.

The occasion was a great one for the Australians because the crowd showed up in full force.

"Playing here (in Canberra) for the second game was unbelievable," said Jackson, who played in her first games since recovering from a hamstring injury.

"I couldn't imagine a better way to finish this tournament than playing here with a packed out crowd.

"Since I've been playing in the national team in qualifying tournaments, this has never happened."

Joyce felt like the national team had done very well, even though the side had been favored against the New Zealanders.

The players only had seven weeks to work out under Joyce and his assistants.

"It was a big thing to get the players used to the coaching staff and build our side," Joyce said.

"Nothing can be taken for granted, we respect everyone we play and New Zealand are proud people and proud to play for their country.

"But we're just as proud and I was very pleased to see our group get through to the World Championship.

"We have brought in some new players to the team and I think we have created a little more depth than we had before."

Before the summer, World Championship hosts Turkey and the Olympic gold medalists Team USA had spots assured in next year's big event.

At the 2013 EuroBasket Women, winners Spain, runners-up France, fourth-place Serbia, fifth-place Belarus and sixth-place Sweden also clinched places in the World Championship field.

FIBA