Inexperienced Tall Ferns feel power of Spain
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An inexperienced Tall Ferns side has been hum bled 99-50 by sixth ranked Spain in the FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying in Puerto Rico.
Missing a stack of unavailable players the New Zealanders were dealt too, but the result was no unexpected with coach Nat Hurst stating the side learnt a huge amount but her players would be better for it.
“Turnovers killed us from the start of the game,” she said. “It’s an area we want to clean up on. Spain are a really good team, lots of length, super athletic and we struggled with that.
“It’s a good first hitout. We got positives ... we win the rebound count and I thought we hung in there together as a team for 40 minutes. We’ve got to learn quickly and move on pretty quickly as well.”
It doesn't get much easier for the Tall Ferns as they will face 14th ranked Italy in their next game.
“We need to be able to handle the pressure that other teams are going to apply to us. They pushed us out of our our floor spots, pushed us out of our stuff and made us rush where we don’t want to rush. We need to do a better job of looking after the basketball," said Hurst.
New Zealand are chasing just a top-four finish at the six-team tournament to progress to the World Cup finals in Berlin in September,
Games Senegal and Puerto Rico will be key if they are to progress any further. A clash with the USA might be a step too far.
Spain forced 25 turnovers and kept the Tall Ferns shooting to 31 percent as Sharne Robati got the first points of the game and. Tegan Graham followed with a triple as well and they led 6-2 but then the Europeans took control.
not too soon after, with a triple of her own as the Tall Ferns took an early 6-2 advantage after four minutes of action.
Spain took a 22-9 first quarter, lead and were ahead 47-22 at the second quarter break .
The third quarter saw 30 points put on by the Spaniards for 77-36 as WNBA star Megan Gustafson top 20 points for the game.
The Spaniards held a staggering 35-0 edge in points off turnovers, had 18 steals to just two, 10 blocks to one, won points in the paint 44-16 and had 26 assists on their 34 made buckets.
Adelaide Lightning forward Ella Tofaeono who led the Kiwi effort with 14 points and 7 rebounds in 22 minutes. She made 4 of 5 shots, all six free-throws and was a rare Fern not to have a turnover.
FIBA women’s World Cup qualifying, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Spain 99 (Megan Gustafson 20, Maria Conde 12, Iyana Martin 11), New Zealand 50 (Ella Tofaeono 14, Sharne Robati 12). 1Q: 22-9; HT: 47-22; 3Q: 77-36.