The Australian Sapphires have won their fourth consecutive FIBA Under-16 Women's Asia Cup after a 86-50 win over trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand, in the gold medal game in Malaysia. Victorian
Madison Ryan (185-SF-2009) completed a dominant tournament, where she finished with 15 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists in the final.
Matilda Trout (187-F-2009) helped Australia runaway from New Zealand, scoring with 14 points with 10 coming in the first hald while
Marianela Fakalata (168-G-2009) also played a significant role in the victory. It didn't all go Australia's way with their opponents jumping out to an early 9-2 lead in the first quarter before Fakalata went on a 5-0 run of her own to settle her team and allow them to grab the momentum back. The guard's early form sparked a 20-4 for the Sapphires to end the opening period and go into the first break with a 22-13 advantage. That momentum stayed with the Sapphires to start the second quarter as Tom Garlepp's side went on a 14-3 run in the first five minutes of the second quarter to start running away from New Zealand and put one hand on the trophy. Trout was too much for New Zealand inside with 12 points in as many minutes in the first half, while Fakalata had nine points and Ryan impressed in all facets of the game, having eight points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals at half-time as the Sapphires held a 47-27 lead at the main break. The Sapphires were completely dominant, forcing 17 turnovers from New Zealand through their full court pressure defensively, while Australia also shot 5-from-12 from beyond the arc at 41.6%. New Zealand mounted somewhat of a fightback in the third quarter, taking better care of the ball and making things tough for Australia on the offensive end, but the Sapphires still won the period 19-13 to lead by 26 points at three-quarter time. Australia's suffocating defence was back in the fourth and final term, limiting New Zealand to just six points in the quarter to record a 36-point victory and be crowned the champions of Asia. Ryan led the scoring for the Sapphires with 15 points, Fakalata ended her impressive tournament with 14 points, including 2-from-3 from three, Trout grabbed eight rebounds to go along with her 14 points and Laura Seiz had 11 points, including three triples. Along with Ryan, Australia's Isabel Smith was also named in the tournament's All-Star Five.
Shamar Broughton (172-G-2009) was the standout for the runners-up with 10 points for New Zealand. The win caps-off a big year for Australian national teams after the Crocs won the FIBA U16 Boys Asia Cup, the Boomers and Opals both won their respective Asia Cups and the Aussie Gems claimed silver at the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup.
Courtesy of: basketball.com.au
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