POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Renae Garlepp
Dunedin hosts Oceania Women's Championships on 26-29th September 2007. Australia, New Zealand and Fiji contest the event, which will be broadcast live across New Zealand. Australia, who have gained automatic entry to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, will still participate in the series, making it a three-team series for the first time in many years.
In the first game New Zealand Tall Ferns opened their Fiba Oceania championship campaign with a hurting loss to Australia. Tall Ferns faced the defending World champions in Dunedin and could not beat the forecasts. The Opals turned out to be stronger and once again proved their ‘one-of-the-best-teams-in-the-world' status. Depleted Australia was without services of WNBA stars Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor. However the class of the Opals' squad was overwhelmingly good for young Kiwis. Australia dominated from the very start and piled up a 17:11 advantage after the first frame. Aussies shot more accurately from the field and won every other defensive battle. They outscored Tall Ferns 19:11 in the second quarter and enjoyed a comfortable 36:22 lead at halftime. New Zealand never showed any signs of recovery after the intermission. Natalie Porter (185-F-80) and Emma Randall (190-C-85) continued to spur their team ahead and Australia entered the fourth stanza with an insurmountable 56:35 advantage. New Zealand team can hardly match the tempo and looked weary late in the game. It resulted in the Opals winning the last part 22:11 and celebrating an overall victory.
Natalie Porter led the action with 16 points. Emma Randall added 13 points for Australia, while Alicia Poto (46-G-78) (46-G-78) netted another 12 for the winners. Jessica McCormack (194-C-89) (194-C-89) answered with 10 points and 12 boards for New Zealand. Angela Marino (166-G-86) (166-G-86) nailed 15 points in a losing clause. New Zealand converted 30.5% from the field and 58% from free throw line. They were outrebounded 37:42 and committed 18 turnovers.
In the second game Australia overwhelmed Fiji 136:32. Renae Camino (177-G-86) led the winners with 27 points, while Kathleen McLeod added 21. Sera Colata produced 12 for Fiji. The latter was unable to stop the Australian team. The Opals were leading 110-13 after three quarters and were holding the pacific islanders to a 4/38 shooting game during this period. Australia played the last quarter on a cooler mode, 26-19. Fiji and New Zealand will face each other tomorrow for a direct qualification to the Beijing Olympics.
New Zealand - Australia 46:78
New Zealand: Angela Marino 15, Jessica McCormack 10+12 boards, Michaela Cocks 7
Australia: Natalie Porter 16, Emma Randall 13, Alicia Poto 12
Australia- Fiji 136:32
Australia: Renae Camino 27, Kathleen McLeod 21, Rohanee Cox, Abby Bishop, Marianna Tolo, Emma Randall 15
Fiji: Sera Colata 12, Seini Dobui 6 Agnes Sokosoko 5.
