Category Archives: Tall Ferns

Feb 06 2017
Leave a comment
College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns, WNBL, Womens Basketball

High scoring performances from a number of Tall Ferns

There were some outstanding performances by Tall Ferns overseas over the weekend including a couple of PB’s. In Australia Micaela Cocks equalled her career best to help keep Townsville on track for play-off action. Over in the States Stella Beck did record a career high whilst Penina Davidson and Kalani Purcell were outstanding for their respective colleges and in Italy Jillian Harmon helped her club Lucca stay top of the table.

American Colleges

 nina_usc

Penina Davidson produced one of her best performances of the season for the University of California Berkeley on Sunday as the Bears beat USC 63-56.

Neither team led by more than three points until Davidson gave the Bears a five-point cushion with 2:27 left in the game, converting a three-point play. Davidson, in a performance described on the Cal website as “electric” led her team with 17 points, two shy of her season best, and nine rebounds. With the win, the Bears improve to 5-7 in Pac-12 Conference play.

BYU bounced back from two straight losses to thump Portland 77-38 on Sunday. On Friday they had gone down 82-57 at West Coast Conference leaders Gonzaga but made no mistake in their third straight away game.

Kalani Purcell recorded her 13th double double of the season (13 points, 12 rebounds) and added a game high 7 assists for good measure. Cougars are now 8-4 in West Coast Conference play, one game back from St Mary’s in second spot

As reported yesterday Stella Beck produced a career best 28 points as St Mary’s Gaels beat San Diego 77-65 on Sunday. The performance was even more meritorious given Beck had not only missed the previous two games due to concussion but also had to be removed from the starting five as she incurred a mouth injury in the warm up.

“Stella Beck is an incredibly tough kid,” said Saint Mary’s head coach Paul Thomas. “Having her being out for the last couple games, and then in warm-ups gets hit, and then performing like that. She was just a leader today. I think that’s awesome. We need that.”

The Tall Ferns guard scored with 11 from 15 shots from the field and 6 from 9 free throws. She also garnered a team high 8 rebounds, as the Gaels remain second on the West Coast Conference ladder with a 9-3 record.

Seattle University Redhawks are 6-1 at the half way stage of Western Athletic Conference play. Jacinta Beckley scored 6 points as the Redhawks beat Utah Valley 69-51.

Australian WNBL

Micaela Cocks was in stunning form for the Townsville Fire as they convincingly defeated Dandenong Rangers 92-78. The combo guard scored a season best 25 points, which included 6 from 9 threes, and also pulled down 7 rebounds.

24 hours later, on Sunday, Townsville made it two from two on their Victorian road trip beating Bendigo Spirit 83-77. Cocks could only manage a couple of points in that one but the win, over the fifth place Spirit, virtually guaranteed the Fire a trip to the play-offs for a sixth straight season.

Perth Lynx are also play-offs bound after beating Canberra Capitals 84-72 on Sunday. Toni Edmondson scored 8 points for the Lynx.

WNBL standings with 2 rounds to play – teams play 24 regular season games and the top 4 qualify for the semi-finals.

Sydney University Flames 16-6, Dandenong Rangers 14-7, Perth Lynx 14-7, Townsville Fire 13-9, Bendigo Spirit 11-10, Canberra Capitals 11-10

Europe

Jillian Harmon continued her good form with a game high 17 points as Le Mura Lucca had little trouble in beating Broni 70-43 in Italian League action. The win means Lucca improved to 15-1 for the season and stay top of the Italian League table.

Feb 05 2017
Leave a comment
College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns

Stella Beck rebounds from injuries in style

PCAFXFHZEXZJBWV.20141122193608

Stella Beck produced a career best 28 points as St Mary’s University Gaels came from behind to beat San Diego 77-65 on Sunday. The performance was even more meritorious given Beck had not only missed the previous two games due to concussion but also had to be removed from the starting five as she incurred a mouth injury in the warm up.

“I hit my teeth together which knocked the crown off my front tooth – the crown is from a WBC tournament I broke my tooth at a few years ago. But it was all good with my mouth guard in and it’s fixed now,” explained Beck speaking exclusively to the Lowdown.

“It was a very good win for us considering they beat us on the buzzer last time.” That loss was early in the West Coast Conference campaign and the Gaels have only lost two of the subsequent 10 games.

“It was a very satisfying career best, it wouldn’t have meant anything if we had lost so I’m glad we gathered the momentum when we did and carried it through until the end.

“We are on a bit of a roll, the chemistry is good and much improved. We have some tough games to close the season but it is a good time for us to be playing our best because it will give us the confidence we need to see it through,” the Tall Ferns guard added.

“Stella Beck is an incredibly tough kid,” said Saint Mary’s head coach Paul Thomas. “Having her being out for the last couple games, and then in warm-ups gets hit, and then performing like that. She was just a leader today. I think that’s awesome. We need that.”

The former Hutt Valley guard scored with 11 from 15 shots from the field and 6 from 9 free throws. She also garnered a team high 8 rebounds, as the Gaels remain second on the West Coast Conference ladder with a 9-3 record.

Jan 28 2017
Leave a comment
Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns, Womens Basketball

Milestone for Micaela Cocks

Micaela Cocks suits up for her 150th game for Townsville Fire on Saturday night. The Tall Ferns guard will be assisting the Fire (11-8) in their quest for a sixth consecutive Australian Women’s National Basketball League play-off spot when they host Sydney University Flames (14-6).

Cocks told the Laceylowdown, “I am looking forward for the game against Sydney as we have had many close games with them throughout the season. They are an in form team at the moment and we really want and need to win this one.”

The reigning WNBL Grand Final MVP will become just the second player to represent Townsville in 150 games.

“It’s an exciting milestone to have 150 game for the same club,” said Cocks who made her debut in 2011 and has since helped Townsville to play-off basketball in every season since.

The Beijing Olympian added, “I didn’t really know where Townsville was when I joined the club but I love it up here. It’s my favourite kind of weather, I love the sun.

“I didn’t expect to stay here so long but I haven’t regretted anything.”

The former North Harbour and University of Oregon standout sits fifth on the Townsville all-time scoring list and is third for assists.

Jan 25 2017
Leave a comment
College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Fotu, Purcell, Beck and Wetzell scoop awards

It has been a good week for a four of our overseas based international players with Isaac Fotu, Kalani Purcell, Stella Beck and Yani Wetzell all receiving awards.

Kalani Purcell was named West Coast Conference Women’s Player of the Week. The honour is the first for Purcell this season but the fourth of her BYU career.

The 6-foot-2 Tall Ferns forward recorded back-to-back double doubles in the Cougars’ two wins to keep the team in a tie for first place in the conference with a 6-2 record.

Purcell recorded 10 points and 13 rebounds as BYU beat Pepperdine in Malibu on Friday and threatened a rare triple double on Sunday as the Cougars beat Pacific 68-50. Purcell recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds and career high 10 assists in a dominating performance that kept BYU at the head of the West Coast Conference with a 6-2 record.

For the week, she averaged 10.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.0 steals while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.

She leads the team and the conference in rebounds, has the most double-doubles on the team with 11 and plays the second-most minutes.

pcafxfhzexzjbwv-20141122193608

Stella Beck plays in the same conference as Purcell and the former Hutt Valley player was named the Student-Athlete of the Week after being one of the Saint Mary’s women’s basketball team’s standouts on an unbeaten West Coast Conference road trip.

Beck posted back-to-back double-figure scoring games and was perfect  from the free-throw line to help keep SMC just one game back of first place in the WCC.

Thursday at Pacific, Beck led Saint Mary’s with 14 points, including a perfect 8 for 8 showing at the free-throw line. She tied her season-best with nine rebounds as the Gaels defeated the then-first place Tigers on the road.

Saturday, Beck turned in another double-figures performance with 10 points. 7 of her 8 rebounds came on the offensive end.

Isaac Fotu received the Best Sixth Man award from a leading basketball publication in Spain, Gigantes del Basket. The Tall Blacks forward, in his third season in the Liga Endesa and his second season with Zaragoza, is averaging 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the club.

920x920.jpg

Yani Wetzell is making some waves in Texas or perhaps rattling some cages is a more appropriate phrase given the university he plays for.

Last year the 6’10” freshman averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for St Mary’s Rattlers, numbers and performances good enough to earn a spot in the New Zealand Select team that toured China.

Last week the former Westlake forward was named Heartland Conference Player of the Week after helping the Rattlers to a couple of Conference victories – Heartland is in an NCAA Division 2 conference.

Wetzell scored a career high 29 points (plus 12 rebounds) in an overtime victory against Newman on Saturday. Two days earlier he had notched 15 points to help St Mary’s overcome Oklahoma Panhandle State. This season he is averaging 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Jan 24 2017
Leave a comment
Tall Ferns, Womens Basketball

Tall Ferns humming overseas

jordan-hunter-1200

It was top versus bottom in the Australian WNBL and the score line reflected the difference in the standings as Dandenong Rangers inflicted an 85-58 toweling on the Adelaide Lightning. Jordan Hunter had a highly respectable 7 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 26 minutes for Adelaide.

Toni Edmondson scored 11 points for the Perth Lynx but they were burned 90-78 by the Flames in Sydney on Saturday night. Perth bounced back 24 hours later beating Melbourne Boomers 87-79 but Edmondson had just 4 points and 4 rebounds in that one.

Micaela Cocks had 7 points and 3 rebounds as Townsville Fire were too hot for Bendigo Spirit winning 87-67.

Townsville and Perth are tied for third spot on the WNBL ladder but Adelaide are dead last (2-17).

American College Action

Kalani Purcell put in a pair of performances at the weekend that earned her the West Coast Conference player of the week award.

Purcell recorded a double double of 10 points as BYU Cougars beat Pepperdine in Malibu on Friday and threatened a rare triple double on Sunday as the Cougars washed over Pacific 68-50. Purcell recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds and career high 10 assists in a dominating performance that kept BYU at the head of the West Coast Conference with a 6-2 record.

Stella Beck was also in fine form in the West Coast Conference. Beck was a perfect 8 from 8 free throws on the way to 14 points and 9 rebounds as St Mary’s won 63-54 at Pacific on Friday. She backed that up with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists as St Mary’s completed the road double by defeating Pepperdine 81-60 and improve their conference results to 5-3.

 Jacinta Beckley matched her career high of 18 points (6/14FG) as Seattle University Redhawks defeated Grand Canyon 88-61 on Sunday to improve to 4-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.

There is nothing grizzly about Northern Colorado’s form. The Bears have won 9 straight games including all 8 Big Sky Conference fixtures after heading Weber State 88-79 on Sunday. Freshman Krystal Leger-Walker chipped in with a tidy 7 points and 7 assists for the Bears.

Tessa Boagni had 4 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals but she couldn’t prevent Cal State Northridge slipping to 1-4 in the Big West Conference play after losing 70-63 to Cal Poly.

Europe

It was all the two’s for Tall Ferns guard Erin Rooney in a quiet start for Polish club Artego Bydgoszcz who she has joined for the second half of the European season. In 22 minutes Rooney had 2 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds as Bydgoszcz beat Polkowice 72-64.

Jan 16 2017
Leave a comment
Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns, Womens Basketball

Beckley & Beck in the points, Davidson the blocks and Purcell the rebounds

nina_cropped

There were career highs and season bests as a number of Tall Ferns excelled in college action last week.

 University of California Berkley snapped a three game losing streak with a 65-53 victory at Colorado on Saturday. Penina Davidson was highly influential for the Bears snaring 8 rebounds and scoring 8 points as well as swatting a career high 6 blocks.

Unfortunately the Bears went down 63-57 at Utah on Sunday – Davidson had another 8 rebounds plus 5 points in that one. The Bears are now 2-4 in Pac-12 Conference play.

She gobbled up 19 rebounds and added 10 points and 4 assists but it wasn’t enough to secure the win as Kalani Purcell and BYU Cougars fell 70-63 at San Francisco on Friday. They bounced back on Sunday to defeat San Diego 81-63 with Purcell notching 15pts, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. BYU are now 4-2 in West Coast Conference play.

Also in the West Coast Conference St Mary’s Gaels are 3-3 after a win and a loss this week. Stella Beck, with a season high 19 points, plus 4 rebounds and 6 assists, helped the Gaels down Portland 92-76 on Friday. Beck looked set to eclipse that mark on Sunday as she scored 18 first half points against Gonzaga. Unfortunately she and the Gaels faded after the interval as they went down 79-75. The Hutt Valley native didn’t add to her opening half points tally but did amass 9 rebounds to come within a whisker of a double double.

 In a rich vein of form at the moment Jacinta Beckley recorded 13p/3r/1a/1b/1st as Seattle University Redhawks defeated University of Missouri-Kansas City 75-65 on Friday. Seattle moved to 3-0 in Western Athletic Conference play after beating Chicago State 64-51 on Sunday. Beckley went 7 from 9 in accumulating 15 points.

beckley

Krystal Leger-Walker only had 4 points as Northern Colorado Bears mauled Montana 65-46 on Friday but the combo guard was huge in general court play. She led the game in both assists (8) and steals (4) as the Bears won a sixth straight game and their fifth in Big Sky Conference fixtures.

Tessa Boagni had 7 points, 6 rebounds and a pair of blocks as Cal State Northridge slipped to 1-3 in the Big West Conference after an 81-65 loss at UC Davis.

Australian WNBL

Townsville Fire couldn’t mark Suzy Batkovich’s 300th WNBL appearance with a win. They went down 73-67 at Canberra Capitals where Micaela Cocks played a strong hand for the Fire with 8 points, 4 assists and 2 steals.

European

 Le Mura Lucca overcame a one point three-quarter time deficit to defeat Torino 78-62 in Italian Cup quarter-final tie. Jillian Harmon was one of five Lucca players in double figures, scoring 15 points, as Lucca outscored Torino 24-13 in the fourth.

Other News

813971786_B974553274Z.1_20150118203420_000_G9K3QBFHB.2-0

Tall Ferns guard Erin Rooney has signed with Polish club Artego Bydgoszcz for the second half of the Polish League season.

Rooney has battled back to fitness after undergoing knee surgery early last year. The Cantabrian picked up the knee injury playing for Calais in the French League, an injury that impacted on her ability to perform at her best for the Tall Ferns during last year’s Olympic Qualifying campaign.

Bydgoszcz are the reigning Polish League champions but currently sit seventh on the twelve team competition ladder with a 7-6 record.

Rooney’s signing takes to seven the number of Tall Ferns currently playing on professional contracts overseas joining:

Jillian Harmon – Le Mura Lucca (Italy)

Micaela Cocks and Chevannah Paalvast (both Townsville Fire)

Toni Edmondson (Perth Lynx)

Jordan Hunter (Adelaide Lightning)

Jess Bygate (Melbourne Boomers)

Jan 14 2017
Leave a comment
Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns

Rooney signs on in Poland

ob_074fd7_img-3923

Tall Ferns guard Erin Rooney has signed with Polish club Artego Bydgoszcz for the second half of the Polish League season.

Rooney has battled back to fitness after undergoing knee surgery early last year. Rooney picked up the knee injury playing for Calais in the French League, an injury that impacted on her ability to perform at her best for the Tall Ferns during last year’s Olympic Qualifying campaign.

Bydgoszcz are the reigning Polish League champions but currently sit seventh in the twelve team competition with a 7-6 record.

It is unclear when Rooney will make her debut in the Polish competition.

Jan 09 2017
Leave a comment
Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns, Womens Basketball

Pro and college review of Tall Ferns in action

Basketball - Tall Ferns v Japan, 27 August 2009

Toni Edmondson

Perth Lynx put on a show to help Toni Edmondson celebrate her 200th WNBL game defeating Bendigo Spirit 108-67. Unfortunately for Edmondson she found herself in foul trouble and was limited to 5 points, 5 assists and a pair of rebounds in her 19 minutes of action.

Edmondson first played in the WNBL for the Christchurch Sirens ten years ago. She had stints with Adelaide, Bendigo and Dandenong before settling in Perth, playing 110 games for the franchise since signing in 2012.

Talking about the milestone Edmondson said, “I knew it was coming up I just didn’t know it was so soon. When you are start you don’t think you are going to be around that long – I generally take it season by season.”

 Micaela Cocks was one of five Townsville players in double figures on Friday night as the Fire demolished Canberra Capitals 93-60. The Tall Ferns guard finished with 14 points (5/9FG), 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Continue reading →

Jan 05 2017
2 Comments
College Hoops, Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Ferns, Womens Basketball

Kiwi women in college – half term report

It is a bit of a challenge trying to keep tabs on the growing number of Kiwis playing in American college basketball. Here is a little summary of who is doing what in the Women’s teams with apologies in advance for those I have overlooked. Time permits to have a look only at players in NCAA Division 1 schools.

For convenience I have grouped the players by year groups.

Seniors 

kalanidribble-utah

Kalani Purcell continues to impresses at BYU. The Tall Ferns forward is averaging almost a double double for the Cougars (12 points and 9.2 rebounds) as well as leading the team in steals. The Cougars were West Coast Conference regular season champions last year and have begun with a win and a loss in defence of that title. Purcell had 18 double doubles last season the most by a BYU player in a season – she has 6 already this season.

Freya-action.jpg

Playing in the Big Sky Conference is former Freyberg High guard Freya Newton. She has started all 13 games for Idaho State Bengals that are currently 8-5 for the season. Newton is contributing a very useful 5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Unfortunately she is not getting to play alongside Brooke Blair as her fellow senior went down with an ACL injury in the opening game of the season. Blair is now red shirting this season. Continue reading →

Jan 02 2017
Leave a comment
Kiwi's Abroad, Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns

Webster and Davidson continue good form

15823627_1146782625370284_4112695816285970828_n

It was a tale of agony and ecstasy on New Years Day for a couple of Kiwi’s involved in thrilling college basketball games.

Starting with the ecstasy Nebraska Huskers shocked No 16 Indiana, snapping its 26 game home winning streak, on Wednesday and rallied past Maryland, which entered the game 13-1 on the opening day of 2017.

Led by 18 points from Tai Webster, his 15th consecutive double digit game, the Huskers recorded a 67-65 come from behind victory at Maryland and improved to 2-0 in Big Ten Conference play.

The Huskers were as many as 13 points behind in the second half and still trailed by nine with four minutes to play.

Nebraska ate further into the Maryland advantage before Webster took charge in the final three minutes scoring the last 7 points of the game to seal a dramatic win.

“I think just having belief in ourselves and our team. We wanted to play better in moments like this obviously after not having the start of the season we wanted. So to be in this position now is big to have our guys come through and step up and make plays,” said Webster referring to the 14-0 run that stole the win.

For the record the Tall Blacks guard also had 5 assists, 2 steals and a couple of rebounds.

nina_cropped

It was mixed emotions for Penina Davidson as the University of California Berkley Bears unbeaten start to the season came to an end in an epic 72-62 double overtime defeat at Arizona State.Cal had entered the game with a 13-0 record for the season – 1-0 in Pac 12 Conference play.

Despite the loss, on a personal note it was a night to remember for the Rangitoto College alumni. Davidson scored a career high 19 points (8/16FG, 3/5 3PG) – the Tall Ferns forward added stuffing to the stats line with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks.

Like Webster, Davidson is in good form at present having posted a massive double double, her first for the No 21 ranked Bears, of 12 points and 14 rebounds in her previous outing.

← Older posts
Newer posts →