Latest news with #EsraMcGoldrick
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Ferns thump Indonesia
The Tall Ferns thumped Indonesia 75-45 in their second group A game of the Fiba Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China, last night. New Zealand's 15 made three-pointers at a 54% clip nearly quadrupled their output from the previous night against South Korea. Rebecca Pizzey's dominance on both ends enabled her to finish with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double, while captain Esra McGoldrick top-scored with 18 points and added six rebounds.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Basketball: Tall Ferns out of Asia Cup contention
Esra McGoldrick shoots the ball during the match between New Zealand and Japan at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen. Photo: LU HANXIN A defeat to world number nine Japan saw the New Zealand women's basketball team miss out on a semi-final spot at the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China. New Zealand lost 77-62, despite an encouraging performance in the first half, which saw them in the lead 41-39 at the major break. Captain Esra McGoldrick was a powerhouse during the first half, scoring 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Youngster Bailey Flavell capped off the half in style - hanging in the air for what seemed to last an eternity before flipping up a tough lay-in, just moments before sinking a clutch mid-range runner at the buzzer to give the Tall Ferns a well-earned two-point halftime lead. Japan emerged a different team in the third quarter, as guards Kokoro Tanaka and Noriko Konno took control at the offensive end, while the Tall Ferns struggled to crack some tough defense. Japan ended up outscoring New Zealand 22-8 in the third quarter, and when they went on a 7-0 run to start the final quarter to increase their lead to 19 points, the margin ended up being too big for the Tall Ferns to overhaul. McGoldrick, finishing the game with 28 points and 12 rebounds, continued to battle hard, scoring five straight points to try and spark her teammates, before assisting a McKenna Dale three-pointer that briefly cut the lead to 10. But another Japanese surge halted any hopes of a comeback, as they closed out the game to advance to the semi-final against hosts China. The result left coach Nat Hurst in a reflective mood. "First 20 minutes we're pretty happy with. We wanted to fix a couple of things at halftime and I just think we came out in the third quarter and the game got a little bit away from us. But we were able to get back to what looked like us in the fourth, so happy about the bounce-back. "The fight that the girls show every game, every minute to prep themselves for this, all that kind of stuff… to continue to fight for 40 minutes when things were down, just super proud to head coach this team." New Zealand's final match of the tournament will be against the Philippines later on Saturday, with the winner finishing in fifth in the eight-team event. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Basketball: Tall Ferns youthful underdogs for Trans-Tasman Throwdown
Esra McGoldrick of New Zealand Photo: MARK EVANS New Tall Ferns coach Nat Hurst has been dealt a tough hand against her former side for Trans-Tasman Throwdown. Hurst's first official series in charge of the Tall Ferns is one of the toughest tests she will face in her head coaching career. The inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown pits New Zealand against Australia in three games over five days in two countries. Australia are ranked second in the FIBA rankings and the 26th-ranked Tall Ferns have not beaten their rivals since 2008. In 54 games between the Tall Ferns and Opals dating back to 1958, New Zealand has won five times. The timing of the Throwdown series, which tips off on 7 May, means Hurst has been forced to name a playing roster that is lacking experience. The most experienced Tall Ferns are currently playing overseas or are unavailable for national team duty. In a 15-person squad there are eight players who have never played for the senior side, six players who have played five tests or less and the most experienced player, Esra McGoldrick, has pulled on the black singlet 19 times. "Winning is not the most important thing for us right now," Hurst said. "We've got a whole new system to put in, a bunch of girls that have either not met or not seen each other for a long time, staff that they don't know. So I think it's about a lot more than just what happens on the basketball court for us in the next couple of weeks. "We want to have depth in all positions, we want people to feel comfortable but also feel uncomfortable so we can continue to improve as individuals to make our team better." Playing in Adelaide on Wednesday, the Sunshine Coast on Friday, and Hamilton on Sunday will replicate the kind of pressure a playing group would be under in FIBA tournaments even though the Throwdown is for nothing more than bragging rights. "Tournament play is tough and if we want to do anything good with where we want to go we need to be able to have success in tournament play. "If we were actually going to a tournament we'd be probably a little bit more strategic about how many minutes we play here, who plays here, and that kind of thing but being that the results aren't really what we're worried about I think it'll be, just when we're tired, who's mentally tough to just push through. "You know we're at the 30th minute in game three, and everyone's running on empty tanks, like, who can push through that? We're looking for that, the extras that we can bring, so we do know that when it's tough in tournament play, that there are players that we can rely on and we'll see who can bring that in this friendly series." Pahlyss Hokianga-Heather drives to the hoop during the Tall Ferns game against Montenegro Photo: FIBA The Opals claimed the bronze medal at last year's Paris Olympics - a feat that the Tall Ferns can only dream of at this stage. The last time New Zealand were at the Olympics was 17 years ago. Hurst, a former Opals player, said the Tall Ferns would be "silly not to" see what they could replicate from the Opals programme across the ditch. "I think the biggest thing you see is the way they came together at the Olympics after losing game one. Obviously their culture is in a really good place and for me that's where ours needs to start. "We need to build that to have any success on the court." The Throwdown is double-headers with the New Zealand and Australian men's teams and will be the first time the Tall Ferns had played at home in five years. "We do want to beat each other and I think there's a whole lot of respect there as well. I hope that we just give the Opals a tough time and they walk away going, Oh, look out New Zealand basketball is on the rise." Ella Bradley, Northern Kāhu & University of Texas - Tyler, debutant Ella Brow, Southern Methodist University, debutant McKenna Dale, Tauranga Whai & Mandurah Magic, 5 games Bailey Flavell, Northern Kāhu & Launceston Tornadoes, 3 games Tegan Graham, VFL AstroStars Bochum, debutant Keriana Hippolite, Tokomanawa Queens & Brisbane Capitals, debutant Pahlyss Hokianga, Tauranga Whai, 5 games Tylah Hooper, Melbourne Tigers, debutant Waiata Jennings, University of Alabama, debutant Esra McGoldrick, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers, 19 games Sharne Robati, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers, 2 games Emme Shearer, University of Portland, debutant Kaylee Smiler, Tauranga Whai, debutant Ashlee Strawbridge, Mainland Pouākai & West Adelaide Bearcats, 3 games Ella Tofaeono, Melbourne Tigers, 3 games Sara Blicavs, Nyadiew Puoch, Isobel Borlase, Stephanie Reid, Abbey Ellis, Maddison Rocci, Alexandra Fowler, Lauren Scherf, Keely Froling, Alexandra Sharp, Miela Sowah, Courtney Woods. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
