Tall Ferns fall short at Women's Asia Cup
- Dave Worsley
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Tall Ferns have lost their opening game at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in a fiery Group A matchup against South Korea 78-76.
New Zealand's late-game comeback fell just short as they battled back from nine points down with just over two minutes remaining to tie the game, before losing in the final seconds in  in Shenzhen, China on Monday.
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Forward Emme Shearer led the Tall Ferns with 22 points (8/17 FG, 2/5 3pt, 4/4 FT), four rebounds and three assists, while Australia-based Rebecca Pizzey, McKenna Dale and Esra McGoldrick also scored in double-digits.
Forward Pizzey had 11 points (5/6 FG) and four boards, guard Dale 11 points (5/10 FG) and three assists and forward McGoldrick 10 points (4/12 FG), five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Centre Ritorya Tamilo also had seven points, eight rebounds and two steals, and point guard Pahlyss Hokianga five points, five assists and two steals.
The Tall Ferns trailed 73-63 with four minutes remaining, before Pizzey and Shearer scored back-to-back baskets to close within six.
Park extended the gap to nine points with 2:03 to play with a three, but New Zealand were not done. Tamilo scored immediately, followed by seven straight points from Shearer, including a corner triple, to tie it up with 12 seconds left.
But heartbreak followed as Korea’s Jisu Park drove the lane and finished through contact with a half-second on the clock, sealing a dramatic win.
Shearer set the tone early, scoring nine of the Tall Ferns’ first 11 points, igniting the Tall Ferns to an early lead. Korea responded with relentless hustle, dominating the offensive glass and launching a barrage from beyond the arc, knocking down five triples.
Dale opened the second quarter with a confident triple, but Korea quickly surged ahead behind Isaem Choi’s individual brilliance, scoring seven straight points to push the lead to 11 and force Tall Ferns head coach Nat Hurst to call her second timeout.
Shearer opened the third quarter with four quick points, sparking another Tall Ferns surge, along with McGoldrick helping cut the lead to a one-possession game early in the period. However, Korea’s sharpshooters struck again, with Kang and Choi each drilling triples to quickly restore a double-digit buffer.
The Tall Ferns face Indonesia on Tuesday (tip-off 5.30pm NZ Time), before battling China on Wednesday (tip-off 11.30pm NZT).
South Korea 78 (Isaem Choi 23, Jihyun Park 20, Leeseul Kang 19) Tall Ferns 76 (Emme Shearer 22, Rebecca Pizzey 11, McKenna Dale 11, Esra McGoldrick 10). 1Q: 24-19, HT: 46-38, 3Q: 64-53