Opals assert Tasman dominance, injuries mar result

The Australian Price Attack Opals have swept New Zealand in their World Championship qualifying tournament, winning the third and last match 67-38 in Te Awamutu on Sunday afternoon.

The win wasn’t without casualty for the Opals with Athens point guard, Alicia Poto, going down with an injured left knee in the third quarter. Early indications show Anterior Cruciate Ligament damage and it is likely she will be miss the upcoming WNBL season and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Jae Cross (nee Kingi) was also injured during the match, slipping a disk in her back in the first quarter and taking no further part in the game. That left back up point guards Erin Phillips and Dee Butler to steer the ship home.

The performance of the Opals was an improvement on Saturday’s, when they won by only eight points, the smallest margin in the history of the Opals and Tall Ferns rivalry.

“We showed a positive improvement to last night’s performance,” Opals head coach Jan Stirling said.

“I felt we came together as a team, and we overcame the adversity of losing our top two point guards.”

The Opals, who had secured their series win with an eight-point victory the night before, held their opponents to just 27.1% FG and forced them into 30 turnovers.

“I was also happy that our defence was able to keep them to five points in the second and final terms,” Stirling said.

Jacinta Hamilton was the Opals top scorer with 18 points. Hollie Grima and Carly Wilson had 12 points each.

Opals top scorers:
Jacinta Hamilton 13, Hollie Grima 12, Carly Wilson 12, Katrina Hibbert 10, Jenny Whittle 10.

Tall Ferns top scorers:
Angela Marino 9, Donna Loffhagen 9.

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