The opening game of the second WBC tournament of 2014 featured hosts Auckland/Counties Manukau Lady Hawks against Waitakere Lady Rangers. The Hawks established an early 20-12 lead, stretched that to 40-20 by half time and cruised to a solid 83-50 victory. Kalani Purcell was in dominant form for the Hawks posting 26 points on 10 from 19 from the field. Sisters Natalie Taylor and Hailey Purcell chimed in with 16 points and 11 points respectively, coach Tania Hunter able to give all her bench court time in the second half. The Lady Rangers shot just 31% from the floor, only Millie Nathan and Wuanyei Ah-Hing scoring double figures. Continue reading
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Category Archives: Womens Basketball
WBC Preview Part Two
The current top five teams on the WBC standings will all fancy their chances of not only gaining a top six play-off berth but also winning the round robin series. Harbour Breeze and Waikato Wizards have a slight advantage as they both have yet to play the Junior Tall Ferns. These games regardless of the result are recorded as wins to the opposition as the JTF fixtures are none competition games. Continue reading
WBC Preview Part One
The second WBC tournament is being held in Auckland this coming weekend.
Five of the teams boast a 3-1 record following the first tournament held in Christchurch early last month and barring a collapse in form should have no problem securing a top six berth and a place in the play-offs. Continue reading
Blair and Tini return to Harbour Breeze
The Harbour Breeze welcome back two US based players for the second WBC tournament being held in Auckland next weekend.
Brooke Blair and Jaycin Tini both graduated from Rangitoto College last year and have enjoyed successful freshman years at their respective junior colleges in the US. Continue reading
Tall Fern Biographies
Kalani Purcell follows in her older sister’s footsteps as she becomes the newest Tall Fern in the Purcell family
The squad boasts four players who played in the 2012/13 WNBL in Australia. Lisa Wallbutton , Toni Edmondson and debutant Kate Fielding played under Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Hamilton-Kereama at Perth for West Coast Waves, and Micaela Cocks played for beaten finalists Townsville Fire. Wallbutton, Cocks and Edmondson are current internationals and will provide the back bone of the team along with Jordan Hunter and Casey Lockwood – the seven other players are all debutants.
Micaela Cocks – North Harbour Micaela was a stand out player at Oregan University (MVP in her senior year) before embarking on a professional career that took her briefly to Poland and France. She has played for the Townsville Fire for the past two seasons. Continue reading
Likely Tall Ferns Selections
Lisa Wallbutton will lead an inexperienced Tall Ferns squad against the Australian Opals next week
If you thought the Tall Blacks team that recently toured China was young and inexperienced, wait until you see the Tall Ferns squad.
The core of the team will feature regular internationals Lisa Wallbutton and Toni Edmondson ( West Coast Waves), Micaela Cocks and Casey Lockwood (Townsville Fire) and Jordan Hunter (Southeast Missouri University).
The experienced Natalie Taylor (Logan Thunder) will almost certainly be unavailable due to injury. Therefore it would appear there will be seven rookies named later this week to take on the Australian Opals at North Shore Events Centre next Wednesday evening – a daunting prospect against the world’s number two ranked nation.
Like the Tall Blacks, two athletes still at school are likely to be named. Continue reading
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