Canty women’s basketball team gains valuable wins

Press, 12 July 1988, Page 32

Canty women’s basketball team gains valuable wins

BY I

BRUCE MARTIN

The Canterbury Women’s Basketball League team gained two valuable wins at the expense of Palmerston North and ’the New Zealand Institute at Cowles Stadium during, the week-end. Canterbury defeated Palmerston North, 80-67, on Saturday evening and upset the Institute team, 66-64, on Sunday afternoon.

The Canterbury women gained two valuable wins at the expense of Palmerston North and the New Zealand Institute.

Canterbury set about its game against the institute with far more determination and spirit and tested the much fitter Institute team.

Canterbury kept in touch in the first quarter matching Institute with quick outlet passes and fast attacking moves. Institute slipped ahead 18-14 after 10 minutes and after scoring 12 unanswered points late in the first spell, had pulled ahead 34-26 and went to the break ahead 40-32. Several times in the third quarter Institute threatened to run clear, leading 52-44 after seven minutes.

Canterbury lifted its teamwork to outplay Institute, defending solidly and attacking swiftly. By the seventeenth minute Shona Salomen put Canterbury ahead 63-58 and with Institute handicapped by

team fouls Canterbury had an opportunity to skip clear.

Canterbury Free throw shooting let it down and Institute nearly stole the game in the last few minutes.

Sturmey was again a model of consistency for Canterbury scoring 29 points, but just six rebounds, while Yvonne Crichton-Hill, Sue Bennett, Salomen and Sue Bennie all contributed top class efforts to give Canterbury a well earned victory.

The New Zealand player, Kirstan Daly, worked hard for her 14 points for Institute and Rhonda Milner played hard. Shelley Norris also worked well but was unable to penetrate Canterbury’s tight defence. Palmerston North, which shares bottom place in the women’s league, tested Canterbury in the first quarter holding Canterbury to a 17-11 lead.

Sturmey shot accurately from her favourite spot just outside the keyhole and. along with two free throws, helped push Canterbury to a 27-15 lead three minutes later.

Canterbury kept up the pressure and moved out to 39-26 at half-time. Honours in the second half were evenly shared with both sides squandering chances with bad

passes spoiling an otherwise entertaining game. Canterbury increased its lead to 54-39 after eight minutes but Palmerston North kept Canterbury at bay with some well organised defence in the later stages. Canterbury shot 33 baskets from 70 attempts at 47 per cent while Palmerston North could only manage a 37 per cent shooting effort. Sturmey slotted another vital 30 points for Canterbury although suffering from an upset stomach. She shot 12 baskets from only 15 attempts (80 per cent). Scores:

Canterbury 80.—S. Sturmey 30, S. Salomen 14, M. Collins 11, S. Bennie 10, S. Bennett 8, R. Forde 4, W. Kerr 2, Y. Crichton-Hill 2. Palmerston North 67.—5. Garden 20, L. Wallace 15, P. Comiskey 8, M. Taituma 8, S. Findlay 7, J. Lawton 6, R. Rigter 3. Referees: Kevin Fastier and Brice Scoullar.

Canterbury 66.—5. Sturmey 29, Y. Crichton-Hill 10, S. Salomen 7, S. Bennett 7, S. Bennie 6, W. Lester 2, R. Forde 1. N.Z. Basketball Institute 64.—K. Daly 14, R. Milner 11, M. L’Ami 9, S. Meads 8, G. Heremaia 7, P. Bloor 7, S. Norris 6, K. Farquhar 2. Referees: Russell Berry and Sharyn Harrow.

Other women’s league results.—Waikato 67, Auckland 44; Southland 66; North Shore 55.