Sparked by skipper Tess Madgen, Australia have claimed the bronze medal on the ladies’s basketball Asia Cup with an 81-59 win over New Zealand in Sydney.
With solely three of their 2022 World Cup squad accessible, Australia completed with a 4-2 document on the match, their solely losses coming to finalists Japan and China.
Madgen set the tone within the playoff for bronze, scoring the Opals’ opening 5 factors after the Tall Ferns received the primary bucket for his or her solely lead of the sport
She received participant of the match award after scoring 14 factors and offering 5 assists.
Backing up after their semi-final loss to China on Saturday evening, Australia grabbed management of the sport with a 9-0 run which arrange a 22-14 quarter-time lead.
New Zealand fought onerous however could not get the deficit under six factors regardless of Penina Davidson logging 19 factors and 11 boards.
The Opals had 5 double-digit scorers headed by 19 from ahead Alice Kunek, who reached double figures for the fifth time in six matches.
Forward Darcee Garbin, watched by her sister Sophie, who will symbolize Australia on the looming world netball championships, contributed 13 factors in as many minutes.
As they’ve achieved all through the match, forwards Anneli Maley and Keely Froling supplied nice hustle off the bench.
Maley racked up 11 factors and as many rebounds whereas Froling added 10 factors.
New Zealand suffered a blow quickly after the tip-off when their Australian-born guard Tahlia Tupaea left the courtroom clutching her left arm and sat out the rest of the match.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au