Pacific Championship: New Zealand outgun Samoa

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