POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Lauren Scherf
FINAL
New Zealand - Australia 54:74
Australia claimed the Pacific Championship title. They defeated hosting New Zealand in the title clash. Lauren Scherf (195-C-96) was a usual contributor with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Australia spurred ahead early in the opening frame. The Aussies piled up a 22:12 lead at the first break. Australia accumulated a 41:26 halftime advantage. The visitors kept New Zealand Maori at bay throughout the third term. Australia accumulated a 56:40 advantage at the third break. The Maori could not recover in the fourth term. Australia held their opponents to just 14 points and rolled to the victory at the end. Kristy Wallace (180-G-96) chipped in 17 points, while Antoniadou had 10 points in the win. Aroha Haumaha (178-F-86) responded with 17 points and 10 rebounds for New Zealand. Samara Gallaher (178-G-92) had 10 points in the defeat.
New Zealand: Aroha Haumaha 17+10 boards, Samara Gallaher 10
Australia: Lauren Scherf 17+13 boards, Kristy Wallace 17, Antoniadou 10
3-4 Place
Tahiti - Papua New Guinea 90:58
Tahiti clinched the Pacific Championship Bronze. They bumped Papua New Guinea in the consolation final tonight. Oceane Lefranc notched 24 points for the winning side.
Tahiti piled up a 6-point lead after ten minutes of action. Papua New Guinea rebounded in the second term. They erased the deficit and established a 36:34 halftime lead. But Tahiti turned things around in the second half. They sparked a 25:11 run in the third term and accounted for a 59:47 advantage at the final break. Tahiti notched 31 points in the fourth term and secured the victory at the end. Maea Lextreyt and Alizee Lefrance had 17 points each in the win. Kristy Wallace responded with 23 points for Papua New Guinea. Waka had 7 points in the loss.
Tahiti: Oceane Lefranc 24, Maea Lextreyt 17, Alizee Lefrance 17
Papua New Guinea: Kristy Wallace 23, Waka 7
5-6 Place
Fiji - Samoa 61:58
Fiji celebrated the fifth position at the Pacific Championship. They pip Samoa in the tournaments finale for both teams. Mikaela Whippy (173-G-86) scored 27 points to lead the charge.
Fiji jumped to a 20:9 lead after ten minutes. They maintained the lead throughout the second term. Fiji accumulated a 33:19 halftime lead. Samoa narrowed the deficit in the third term. They cut the distance at 4-point mark after thirty minutes 40:44. Samoa kept the pressure growing throughout the final term but Fiji withheld the challenge and sealed the victory. Dale Wise produced 14 points, while Tiyana Kainamoli added 6 points for Fiji. Savannah Tafau-Levy (175-F-95) responded with 17 points for Samoa. Hailey Purcell (178-G/F-87, college: Tenn-Martin) had 15 points in the loss.
Fiji: Mikaela Whippy 27, Dale Wise 14, Tiyana Kainamoli 6
Samoa: Savannah Tafau-Levy 17, Hailey Purcell 15
7-8 Place
New Caledonia - Guam 69:64 (OT)
New Caledonia wrapped up their Pacific Championship campaign with victory. They held off Guam for the seventh place at the tournament. Allissonne Laukau nailed 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win.
Guam recorded a 19:4 lead ten minutes into the game. They stayed ahead in the second quarter. Guam accumulated a 37:20 halftime lead. But New Caledonia recovered well in the second half. They triggered a 24:12 rally in the third term to narrow the gap. New Caledonia denied the deficit in the final period and forced overtime. New Caledonia limited Guam to just 4 points in the extra period and clinched the victory. Diana Moutry and Alexandra Morin had 12 points apiece in the win. Brianna Benito responded with 23 points and 14 boards for Guam. Kathryn Castro netted 10 points in the defeat.
New Caledonia: Allissonne Laukau 20+13 boards, Diana Moutry 12, Alexandra Morin 12
Guam: Brianna Benito 23+14 boards, Kathryn Castro 10
