LACEY LOWDOWN

It’s only been pre-season games for our Kiwi players in colleges in the USA or as the Americans like to call then – Exhibition Games.

The real thing begins next week but it’s worth highlighting a few notable performances during ‘Exhibition’ time.

Firstly a big shout out to Brooke Blair who scored 17 points for Idaho State Bengals who went down 95-87 against Northwest Nazarine. The 2016 Tall Fern will be mightily relieved as it was her first game back since incurring a season ending ACL injury in the opening game of last season.

In the first game of the regular season this coming weekend Idaho State will visit Seattle which will pitch Blair up against Jacinta Beckley. Seattle warmed up with an easy 104-57 win against Central Washington with Beckley easing to 15 points and 5 rebounds.

Katelin Noyer is striving to nail down the starting centre role at Fresno State and did her chances no harm with 15 points and 6 rebounds as the Bulldogs beat Fresno pacific 93-58.

A couple of more established players Penina Davidson and Tessa Boagni also put in strong performances.

Boagni claimed 14 points and 7 rebounds as Cal State Northridge Matadors took care of The Masters University 83-65 and Davidson recorded similar numbers (17pts and 7rebs) in Cal Berkeley’s 71-52 against Vanguard.

Vanguard was well served by former Counties Manukau forward Tania Uluheua – who suited for Harbour Breeze in the 2017 WBC. Uluheua scored 13 points on 6 from 9 shooting.

Zara jillings and Kendell Heremaia have both debuted for Fordham University Rams in the last few days. Heremaia was her normal busy self with 6 points, 4 boards, 2 steals and an assist as Fordham cruised past Post University 83-33. Jillings had a game high 5 steals to add to 6 points and a trio of rebounds and assists.

Krystal Leger-Walker contributed five points, as did debutant Tiarna Clarke, in University of Northern Colorado’s 68-51 win against CSU Pueblo.

2014 Tall Fern Dru Toleafoa opened with 10 points and 6 rebounds as Santa Clara easily dispatched Santa Cruz 71-32.

Plenty to look forward to in the upcoming season and we will do our best to keep you updated here on the Laceylowdown

We have a couple of games of special interest this coming week where Kiwi Tall Ferns will go head to head.

Stella Beck and St Mary’s Gaels will go up against Penina Davidson and Cal Berkeley Bears. Also, as mentioned previously, Brooke Blair and the Idaho State Bengals travel to Seattle to take on Jacinta Beckley and the Seattle Redhawks.