POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Maea Lextreyt
Group A
Australia - Fiji 96:31
Australia recorded the third victory in a row at the Pacific Championship in Porirua City. Lauren Scherf (195-C-96) scored 19 points and 10 rebounds to pace the winners.
Australia knocked down 22 points in the first term and built a 15-point lead. The Aussies extended their lead in the second frame. They established a 42:15 halftime lead. Australia boosted the gap in the third term. They arrived at the final intermission up by as many as 45 points. Australia never looked back en route to the victory. Montana Farrah-Seaton (178-G-96) chipped in 13 points, while Brodie Theodore (167-G-96) had 12 points for the winners. Mikaela Whippy (173-G-86) responded with 13 points for Fiji. Dale Wise netted 10 points in the loss.
Australia: Lauren Scherf 19+10 boards, Montana Farrah-Seaton 13, Brodie Theodore 12
Fiji: Mikaela Whippy 13, Dale Wise 10
Guam - New Caledonia 73:51
Guam raced to the victory in the third round of preliminary action at the Pacific Championship. Guam thus improved at 1-2 record in Group A. Brianna Benito posted 23 points and 8 rebounds to lead the winners.
Guam held New Caledonia to just 7 points in the first term and secured a 10-point lead. Guam stretched the gap at the interval. They built a 34:15 halftime lead. Guam kept New Caledonia at bay throughout the third term. They ensured a 56:36 lead at the final break. Guam never looked back afterwards and cruised to the victory. Maree Pelkey produced 14 points, while Kathryn Castro added 12 points in the win. Diana Moutry responded with 17 points for New Caledonia. Allissonne Laukau had 12 points and 16 boards in the losing effort.
Guam: Brianna Benito 23, Maree Pelkey 14, Kathryn Castro 12
New Caledonia: Diana Moutry 17, Allissonne Laukau 12
Group B
Tahiti - Papua New Guinea 75:65
Tahiti recorded the second win in the Group B of the Pacific Championship. Alizee Lefrance scored 27 points and 9 rebounds to lead the winners. Tahiti will face Guam, while Papua New Guinea will take on Fiji in the quarterfinal clashes.
Tahiti eked out a 19:18 lead after the opening quarter. Papua New Guinea erased the deficit in the second term. The teams arrived at halftime tied at 30. Tahiti dropped 20 points in the third term and accumulated a 4-point lead. Tahiti stayed in charge throughout the final term and sealed the victory. Maea Lextreyt netted 19 points, while Oceane Lefranc had 16 points, 7 boards and 6 assists in the win. Betty Angula responded with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Papua New Guinea. Wallace had 13 points in the defeat.
Tahiti: Alizee Lefrance 27, Maea Lextreyt 19, Oceane Lefranc 16
Papua New Guinea: Betty Angula 18+12 boards, Wallace 13
New Zealand - Samoa 65:49
New Zealand Maori registered the third victory in a row at the Pacific Championship. The hosts shot down Samoa to remain undefeated. Aroha Haumaha (178-F-86) scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the winners.
New Zealand and Samoa traded baskets throughout the opening frame. Samoa pulled ahead in the second term. They eked out a 30:29 halftime advantage. But New Zealand turned things around in the third term. The hosts triggered a 20:6 run and raced to a 13-point advantage. New Zealand held their opponents to just 13 points in the final stanza and rallied to the victory at the end. Kyler Parai had 16 points and 9 boards, while Samara Gallaher (178-G-92) had 11 points in the win. Hailey Purcell (178-G/F-87, college: Tenn-Martin) responded with 17 points for Samoa. Karli Tuia (G-87) netted 14 points in the losing effort.
New Zealand: Aroha Haumaha 17+10 boards, Kyler Parai 16, Samara Gallaher 11
Samoa: Hailey Purcell 17, Karli Tuia 14
