Site Weld Otago Goldrush proved too strong for Auckland Lady Rangers in the opening game of the 2017 Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) in Dunedin last Sunday.
Paced by 18 points from Jeanie Pattison and 14 points from Nicole Ruske Goldrush cruised to an 82-55 victory at the Edgar Centre.
All 11 teams will be in action on Auckland’s North Shore this week. If you missed it here is a preview of the season. link
Not too much to report from Australia as the majority of State Leagues in Australia are taking a break over Easter weekend.
However one piece of good news to emerge last week was that Toni Edmondson has re-signed with Perth Lynx for the 2017-18 WNBL season.
The 29-year old enjoyed an outstanding 2016/17 season, starting all 27 games for the Lynx averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per outing.
“I can’t wait for the new season to start,” said Edmondson who is currently playing the WNBL off-season for Perry Lakes Hawks in the Western Australian State League.
“I’ve been here for five years now so WA definitely feels like home,” added Edmondson who has played 211 games in her nine seasons in the League.
The Cantabrian debuted in the WNBL back in 2007 when she suited for her hometown team Christchurch Sirens in its only season in the competition. From there she linked with Dandenong Rangers, Bendigo Spirit and Adelaide Lightning before settling in Perth.
A key member of the Tall Ferns, Edmondson looks set to continue her international career when the New Zealand team travels to India to contest the FIBA Asia Cup for the first time. The tournament will begin late July in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru (formerly known as Bangalore).
Former North Harbour star Lisa Wallbutton
Our Tall Ferns in Australia came out on the right side of the ledger at the weekend but only just – wins for Edmondson, Wallbutton and Stockill but losses for Hunter and Bygate.
It was a more than useful 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists from Toni Edmondson that helped Perry Lakes Hawks win an exciting encounter against Willetton Tigers 81-79 in the State League over in Western Australia. The Hawks, with four straight wins, are top of the table.
Also in the State League Perth Redbacks beat East Perth Eagles 72-56. Lisa Wallbutton contributed 4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks as the Redbacks won for the second straight week.
Sunbury Jets are now five from five in the Big V League after beating Waverley Falcons 80-66 on Sunday. Josie Stockill made 10 points and added 4 rebounds and a steal in this latest Jets victory.
Sandringham Sabres had a disastrous weekend in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). Jess Bygate put in a couple of good shifts but the Sabres were cut to bits on Friday by Bendigo Braves (85-56) and again on Saturday by Dandenong Rangers (83-39).
The former Nelson power forward contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds, a steal and a block against Bendigo and backed that up with 10 points and 4 rebounds 24 hours later.
Jordan Hunter scored 4 points in her second game for Sturt Sabres in the South Australian Premier League as Sturt fell 75-69 at Forestville Eagles.
The New Zealand Under 16 girls basketball team, and the New Zealand Select Under 16 girls team have been named. These teams will travel to Australia in June and July to take on some of Australia’s top junior teams.
Head Coach of the New Zealand Under 16 Girls team, Natalie Visger says, “the wider squad is a very athletic and passionate group with a bright basketball future.”
For a full report go to;
http://www.basketball.org.nz/News/new-under-16-girls-basketball-teams-named
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
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.
Micaela Cocks scored 13 points, snared 3 rebounds and a steal but the result was not what she wanted in her 150th game for Townsville Fire. The Fire, fourth on the table, lost a tight one 76-75 against second placed Sydney University Flames and still have a bit to do to clinch a WNBL play-off birth.
The reigning WNBL Grand Final MVP became just the second player to represent Townsville in 150 games. “It’s an exciting milestone to have 150 games 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.
Toni Edmondson scored 14 points (5/9FG) for Perth Lynx on Friday night as they secured an 80-60 win on the road against Adelaide Lightning.
Jordan Hunter was busy for the Lightning with 3 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and a steal.
Perth returned home for the tie against Dandenong Rangers on Sunday and defeated the top of the table Melbourne club 87-77. Edmondson scored 11 points (4/6FG) in that one.
American Colleges
BYU had a pair of overtime games last week recording a win and a loss. The Cougars were taken to double overtime by Santa Clara on Friday before prevailing 72-66 after the scores were tied 57 each after regulation and 65 apiece after an additional period. Kalani Purcell was within an assist of triple double territory after boasting a stat line of 10pts/17rebs/9a/3stls/2blocks.
Purcell was equally productive on Sunday (9pts/17rebs/5a/5stls) but BYU fell 77-74 against Loyola Marymount. The Cougars are now 7-3 in West Coast Conference play.
St Mary’s Gaels completed a three game road stretch with a hard earned 64-62 win at San Francisco. Stella Beck contributed a more than useful 12p/6r/1a/2b/3st stats line towards the win and improved the Gaels conference results to 6-3.
University of California, Berkley visited No 7 ranked Washington on Saturday and were well beaten 90-67 to slip to 3-6 in Pac-12 Conference play. Penina Davidson had a solid 6 points and 5 rebounds outing for Cal. Interestingly Washington boast the season’s leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 Women’s basketball in their lineup. Kelsey Plum, the nation’s leading scorer, averages 31 points per game so Cal may be satisfied they held her to 24 points!
Jacinta Beckley played a starring role for Seattle University Redhawks as they overturned a 36-22 half-time deficit to eventually beat Rio Grande Valley 67-54.
Beckley impressed with 18 points (7/9FG), 7 rebounds and a pair of steals as the Redhawks improve to 5-1 in Western Athletic Conference play.
Northern Colorado Bears made it 9 from 9 in Big Sky Conference fixtures after beating Northern Arizona 75-64 on Friday. Guard Krystal Leger-Walker knocked down 3 from 4 three-point attempts as she scored 11 points and dished 4 assists.
Europe
Jillian Harmon scored a game high 15 points as Le Mura Lucca came from behind to defeat Ragusa 51-49 in a tight low scoring affair at home. Lucca improved to 14-1 and remains top of the Italian League table.
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
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
LACEY LOWDOWN 