AUS/NZL – Opals finish the job and look ahead to London
SYDNEY (FIBA OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN) – Australia has led from start to finish to claim an emphatic 3-0 series victory in the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, defeating New Zealand 82-57 in Sydney.
As has been the case the entire series, Australian bigs Abby Bishop (21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Suzy Batkovic (13 points, 7 rebounds) led the way against their outsized opponents, while Hanna Zavecz finished off her excellent tournament with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
For New Zealand, Micaela Cocks (17 points, 5 rebounds) and Jillian Harmon (12 points, 7 rebounds) led the way in a team that lacked the disruptive energy they had displayed in the first two games.
Things looked good early for the Tall Ferns, winning the first quarter 20-17 and still leading by one point with 7:35 remaining in the second.
The Opals then upped the defensive pressure, crashed the boards and Bishop made her impact felt inside. When Natalie Hurst nailed a big transition three-pointer the score was 39-28 with 3:13 to play before the half and things looked ominous for the Tall Ferns.
New Zealand didn’t give up in the third quarter, reducing the margin to single figures on multiple occasions thanks to the skill of Cocks and Natalie Taylor (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) in the open court, but as the Tall Fern stars tired the fourth quarter was all Australia, executing with ease to secure their 35-point win and a 3-0 series sweep.
Australia have qualified for the London Olympic Games, while New Zealand will compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women next year.
