POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Hope Terdich
Final
Australia New Zealand 68:45
Australia held off their cross-Tasman rivals New Zealand to celebrate the Oceania Championship crown. Australia finished the tournament undefeated and deservedly clinched the top spot in the ladder. Rebecca Cole scored 18 points and pulled down 9 rebounds to lead the charge in the championship game.
The teams looked well matched in the starting frame as New Zealand answered almost every attempt from the Aussies. The Emerging Tall Ferns trailed by just 2 points at the first intermission but collapsed in the second quarter. They shot just 1/20 from the field and managed 2 points to allow their opponents to run away. Australia cleared off to a 26-point distance at halftime making a huge step towards victory.
Australia stayed focused in the third period keeping the Emerging Tall Ferns at bay. The margin grew at 28 points with ten minutes left and the outcome was obvious from now on. New Zealand won the final quarter with little impact on the final outcome though.
Caitlin Rowe (187-F/C-91) produced 16 points and 11 rebounds for Australia. Hope Terdich (192-F-86) had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the winning case. Jelena Vucinic answered with 9 points for New Zealand. Miriam Slatter tallied 7 points and 7 rebounds in defeat.
Australia outrebounded New Zealand 52:36 and held those to just 21% from the field.
Australia: Rebecca Cole 18, Caitlin Rowe 16+11 boards, Hope Terdich 11
New Zealand: Jelena Vucinic 9, Miriam Slatter 7
Bronze medals game
Guam - New Caledonia 61:59
Guam clinched the third spot at the Oceania Championship in Saipan. They held off New Caledonia in a tight battle to take the bronze medals.
The teams were plagued by low accuracy in the opening frame teaming up for just 14 points tied at 7 apiece. The tempo grew substantially in the second quarter. Guam fired four three-pointers in the period to accumulate a 30:29 lead at halftime. New Caledonia reacted with minor success in the third frame as they drew things level at 45 heading into the final period. Clarissa Passa helped New Caledonia to a 7-point lead midway through the final term. But Guam refused to fold and bounced back. Derin Santos and Maree Pelkey dragged the teams back in the contest denying the deficit. Raelene Tajalle knocked down a decisive free throw late in the encounter to propel Guam to a narrow victory at the end.
Derin Santos stepped up with 13 points to lead Guam. Ritalynn Anderson and Brainna Benito secured 10 points apiece for the winners. Clarissa Passa answered with 13 points for New Caledonia. Yolaine Koteureu and Yolande Luepak notched 12 points apiece in defeat.
Guam: Derin Santos 13, Ritalynn Anderson 10, Brianna Benito 10
New Caledonia: Clarissa Passa 13, Yolaine Koteureu 12, Yolande Luepak 12
Semifinals
Australia - Guam 68:33
Australian selection paved their way into the Oceania championship title game. They eased past Guam in the semifinal earlier today to enter the main game of the competition. Australia thumped their opponents defensively and ensured a decisive lead in the first half. Australia allowed Guam to account for just 3 points in the starting frame and grabbed a 13-point lead. Guam quite unexpectedly outrebounded their opponents in the second frame but shot just 4/22 from the field to trail by 23 points at halftime. Australia continued to keep Guam under the pressure in the second half extending the advantage. The Aussies coasted to a 34-point lead with one quarter remaining. A well-balanced effort saw Australia post a confident victory at the end.
Hope Terdich, Rebecca Campigli (177-G-90) and Emma Lobb (188-F-90) came up with 11 points apiece to propel Australia to the win. Caitlin Rowe knocked down 10 points in the victory. Maree Pelkey responded with 10 points and 6 boards for Guam. Kathryn Castro and Raelene Tajalle had 7 points each in defeat.
Australia will face New Zealand in the title decider. Guam will take on New Caledonia for the Bronze medals.
Australia: Hope Terdich 11, Rebecca Campigli 11, Emma Lobb 11
Guam: Maree Pelkey 10, Kathryn Castro 7, Raelene Tajalle 7
New Zealand - New Caledonia 71:39
New Zealand Emerging Tall Ferns reached the championship game at the 2009 Oceania tournament. Earlier today they held off New Caledonia to make it to the Final. New Zealand will now face Australia in the title decider.
New Caledonia could not cope with nervousness at the start of the game. They committed deadly 16 turnovers in the first period to trail by 13 points after ten minutes. New Caledonia tried to outmuscle New Zealand in the second quarter. They outrebounded the Emerging Tall Ferns 14:9 in the period but could not win the stanza. New Zealand rolled to a 16-point lead at halftime. The Emerging Tall Ferns adjusted their game inside the paint as they grabbed 21 boards in the third stanza en route to a comfortable 21-point cushion with ten minutes to go. New Caledonia had no chance in the final frame and though they notched 15 points New Zealand stormed to the win at the end.
Miranda Caldwell provided 18 points and 11 boards for New Zealand. Philippa Connell added 12 points and 10 boards for the winners. Eugenie Folituu responded with 9 points and 7 boards for New Caledonia. Yolaine Koteureu finished with 8 points and 9 boards in the losing effort.
New Zealand: Miranda Caldwell 18+11 boards, Philippa Connell 12+10 boards, Natalie Moore 11
New Caledonia: Eugenie Folituu 9, Yolaine Koteureu 8
