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13 - 19
June 2016
09/05/2016
News
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Tall Ferns ready to get down to business

AUCKLAND (2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - In just over a month, the New Zealand Tall Ferns are going to run onto the court in Nantes, France, to face the host nation of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).

The coach of the New Zealanders, Kennedy Kereama, has announced the list of 16 hopefuls that are going to compete for the 12 spots on the country's WOQT roster. Among them are four players that competed in the 2016 WNBA Grand Final in Australia - MVP Micaela Cocks and Chevannah Paalvast of the Townsville Fire and Perth Lynx duo Antonia Edmondson and Lisa Wallbutton.

Thirty-year-olds Cocks and Wallbutton were in the New Zealand Olympic team of eight years ago in Beijing. The other player among the 16 to have played in Beijing is Jillian Harmon.

The squad is comprised of four players in New Zealand's domestic competition, four in the American collegiate system and eight overseas based professional players.

Kalani Purcell, 21, is one of the NCAA players among the 16. She is coming off a very strong season at Brigham Young University-Provo.

We're rapt with the group we've got, with some top-level college players, others doing big things in the WNBL and a couple playing professionally in Europe. It's the best team we could field − a good blend of exciting young talent, married with experienced campaigners. We'll look to get our chemistry right over the next six weeks. - Kereama

New Zealand finished runners-up to the Australia Opals in last year's FIBA Oceania Women's Championship. Though beaten by the No. 2 team in the FIBA World Ranking, the Tall Ferns had plenty of fine moments.

To get ready for the WOQT, New Zealand will first take part in the Four Nations Tournament (14-16 May) against hosts China, the Czech Republic and Montenegro in Hengyang, Hunan Province. Next will be a Four Nations Tournament (19-21 May) against the same teams in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia. New Zealand will then travel to Riga and take on Latvia in friendlies (23-28 May).

Harmon and Josie Stockill will miss the tour of China but link up with the Tall Ferns in Riga. Next, Kereama's side will play in Belarus (29 May - 4 June) in a Four Nations Tournament against the hosts, Japan and Turkey in Minsk. They will finally visit Asturias, Spain, 5-9 June, for friendlies there before leaving for Nantes.

New Zealand players taking part in the tour of China and/or Europe: Stella Beck, Brooke Blair, Jessica Bygate, Micaela Cocks, Penina Davidson, Antonia Edmondson, Deena Franklin, Jordan Hunter, Jillian Harmon, Katelyn Noyer, Chevannah Paalvast, Kalani Purcell, Erin Rooney, Josie Stockill, Lisa Wallbutton and Krystal Leger-Walker.

FIBA