POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Aroha Jennings
Group A
Fiji - New Caledonia 48:21
Fiji posted the first win at the 2013 Pacific Championship in New Zealand. They rallied past New Caledonia in Group A opener. Mikaela Whippy (173-G-86) scored 10 points to lead the winners.
Fiji snatched a narrow 12:10 lead after the opening quarter. They held New Caledonia to just 4 points in the second term. Fiji established a 21:14 halftime lead. New Caledonia scored only 2 points in the third term and trailed by as many as 18 points at the final break. Fiji stayed aggressive defensively in the fourth term and sealed the win at the end. Ada Dansey chipped in 8 points, while Dale Wise and Tiyana Kainamoli produced 6 points apiece in the win. Zorena Adjouhgniope responded with 7 points for New Caledonia. Alexandra Morin had 3 points in the defeat.
Fiji: Mikaela Whippy 10, Ada Dansey 8, Dale Wise 6, Tiyana Kainamoli 6
New Caledonia: Zorena Adjouhgniope 7, Alexandra Morin 3
Australia - Guam 97:6
Australia victoriously opened the Pacific Championship campaign. The favourites cruised past Guam in Group A. Lauren Scherf (195-C-96) and Kristy Wallace (180-G-96) scored 18 points to lead the winners.
Australia showed their ambitions right from the start. They went on a 32:4 run in the opening quarter. The Opals held their opponents to 2 points in the second term building a 50:6 lead. Guam collapsed offensively in the second part of the game. They failed to score in the second half as Australia coasted to the win. Brodie Theodore (167-G-96) knocked down 17 points for the winners. Brianna Benito, Kathryn Castro and Tajalle had 2 points each for Guam.
Australia: Lauren Scherf 18, Kristy Wallace 18, Brodie Theodore 17
Guam: Brianna Benito 2, Kathryn Castro 2, Tajalle 2
Group B
Tahiti - Samoa 65:40
Tahiti opened win count at the Pacific Championship in New Zealand. They outscored Samoa in Group B. Maea Lextreyt posted 19 points to lead the winners.
Tahiti jumped to a 19:9 lead after the opening quarter. They boosted the gap in the second term. Tahiti piled up a 39:17 halftime advantage. Tahiti kept Samoa at distance in the third term. They rallied to a 53:30 advantage at the final break. Tahiti held their opponents to just 10 points in the fourth quarter and raced to the victory at the end. Alizee Lefrance chipped in 16 points, while Oceane Lefranc had 10 points and 13 boards for the winners. Savannah Tafau-Levy (175-F-95) replied with 11 points and 11 rebounds for Samoa. Charlotte Davis tossed in 8 points in the loss.
Tahiti: Maea Lextreyt 19, Alizee Lefrance 16, Oceane Lefranc 10+13 boards
Samoa: Savannah Tafau-Levy 11+11 boards, Charlotte Davis 8
New Zealand - Papua New Guinea 86:48
New Zealand Maori clinched the first victory at the Pacific Championship in Porirua City. The hosts defeated Papua New Guinea as Aroha Jennings (179-F/G-84, college: Memphis) nailed 20 points.
New Zealand got to a confident start. The Maori unloaded 27 points in the opening quarter and secured a 17-point lead. The hosts boosted the margin in the second term. New Zealand accumulated a 49:20 halftime lead. Papua New Guinea trimmed the deficit in the third term. The visitors got within 23 points at the final intermission. New Zealand quickly recovered in the fourth term scoring 28 points and posting a convincing victory. Samara Gallaher (178-G-92) had 18 points, while Maia Watene chipped in 14 points for the winning side. Emily Koivi replied with 13 points for Papua New Guinea. Betty Angula had 12 points and 10 boards in the defeat.
New Zealand: Aroha Jennings 20, Samara Gallaher 18, Maia Watene 14
Papua New Guinea: Emily Koivi 13, Betty Angula 12+10 boards
