Opals shine to beat NZ in Trans-Tasman Throwdown
Debutant Miela Sowah's sharp shooting and captain Stephanie Reid's dogged defence have carried the Opals to an 88-70 win over New Zealand in the opening game of the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown.
After threatening to power away early at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, Australia saw their lead slashed to a single point in the fourth quarter before responding emphatically with a 21-2 surge down the stretch.
Perth Lynx guard Sowah top-scored with 23 points, while Reid made life hell for the Tall Ferns' backcourt, racking up five steals and two blocks in an impressive display of defensive basketball.
Opals captain Stephanie Reid (L) picked up five steals and two blocks against New Zealand. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)
Townsville Fire duo Alex Fowler and Courtney Woods, also both debuting in the green and gold, scored 12 and 11 off the bench, respectively.
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"For the most part, consistently, at the defensive end of the floor was where we were at our most solid," Opals coach Paul Goriss said.
"That's something we want to hang our hat on. I think we remained calm throughout (the NZ fightback).
"I don't think we panicked at any time and we stayed the course."
Alex Fowler (C) scored 12 points after coming off the bench in the Opals' win over New Zealand. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)
Forward Sharne Robati (19 points) was easily the Tall Ferns' best in the first meeting between the two sides since the 2023 Asia Cup bronze-medal match in Sydney, which Australia won, and the first bilateral series between the rivals since 2015.
Robati scored eight of the tourists' 11 first-quarter points but the Opals had more contributors early and took control 27-17 at the break.
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NZ, ranked 26th in world, had the better of second-ranked Australia across the middle two quarters, starting with a defence-dominated, scrappy 13-12 second term to cut the home side's lead to nine at half-time.
The Aussies missed all six three-point attempts in the third stanza, while the Tall Ferns found their range to knock down five-of-seven, riding an 11-1 burst to win the quarter 27-22 and trim the gap to 61-57 at the last break.
Sharne Robati (L) was the best for the Tall Ferns, scoring 19 points. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)
NZ further cut the deficit to 67-66 and had all the momentum, before the Opals went on a match-sealing tear.
Led by Reid's defence, the Tall Ferns' turnovers mounted in the closing stages, allowing Sowah, Fowler and Woods to prosper at the other end.
The second of the three-game series will be at Sunshine Coast's UniSC Arena on Friday.
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