Media Release - Tall Ferns off to China Tuesday 14 June, 2011

There is an experienced look to the Tall Ferns team confirmed for this week’s tournament in China, after extensive trials over the past five days at the Breakers training base in Auckland.

Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe, Natalie Taylor (nee Purcell), and have been selected as well as the talented who was a highly rated player in the American College system and is now playing in Italy.

There are four other players are in the US collegiate system – Erin Rooney at Fordham University in New York, Rebecca Dew in Hawaii, Jordan Hunter in Missouri and Jelena Vucinic (daughter of Tall Blacks coach, Nenad Vucinic) at Louisiana Tech who is also the youngest player in the team at 19-years-old.

The one New Zealand-based squad member is Waikato Wizards forward Aroha Jennings.

Guard and Jess McCormack were unavailable for selection while Otago guard is currently on tour with the New Zealand women's team.

Coach Kennedy Hamilton-Kereama says there is a group of players who provide plenty of experience for the team for what is an exciting year.

“There’s a core group of Olympic players and also some players we want to bring through as well. It was good to have a large number of players trialling for this tour. Micaela (Cocks), Kate (McMeeken-Ruscoe), Natalie (Taylor), Lisa (Wallbutton) and Jillian (Harmon) have all got that core experience and talent. In fact every player in the squad has been in the Tall Ferns before, so it won’t be a shock to them. We aren’t the tallest, but being undersized isn’t too much of a disadvantage. The opponent’s big players still have to defend against us,” says Hamilton-Kereama.

Coming on board as an assistant coach alongside reappointed Aik Ho for the Tall Ferns is Australian Dean Kinsman, who has vast experience at the Australian Institute of Sport with various roles, coaching throughout Australia.

The team departs for China on Wednesday 15 June where they face Australia, Brazil and China in a four nations tournament 17-19 June and 21-23 June. Australia are ranked third in FIBA rankings with Brazil sixth and China eighth. The Tall Ferns are 16 th .

The tournament is part of the Tall Ferns build-up to their three-test Olympic qualifying series with Australia in September for a place in London next year.

Tall Ferns: Erin Rooney (Fordham University, New York), Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (Logan Thunder, Australia), Lisa Wallbutton (Albury Wodonga Lady Bandits, Australia), Natalie Taylor (nee Purcell) (University of Limerick Women’s Superleague, Ireland), Antonia Edmondson (Bendigo Braves, Australia), Micaela Cocks (Sandringham Sabres, Australia), Rebecca Dew (University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine), Jillian Harmon (Pool Comense, Italy) Jordan Hunter (Crowder College Lady Riders, Missouri), Patrice McKenzie (Frankson Blues, Australia), Jelena Vucinic (Louisiana Tech, Louisiana) Aroha Jennings (Waikato Wizards) PH: 64 4 498 5950 – FAX: 64 4 472 3623 Level 4, 3-9 Church St, PO Box 6052, Wellington www.basketball.org.nz – email: [email protected]

Head Coach – Kennedy Hamilton-Kereama Assistant Coach - Aik Ho Assistant Coach - Dean Kinsman Doctor - Channa Dassanayake Physio - Sharon Choie

Schedule in China

Xiang Yauan Game 1 v China 7.30pm (CST) - Friday 17 Game 2 v Australia 6.00pm (CST) - Saturday 18 Game 3 v Brazil 4.30pm (CST) - Sunday 19

Yulin Game 4 v China 7.30pm (CST) - Wednesday 22 Game 5 v Australia 3.55pm (CST) - Thursday 23 Game 6 v Brazil 4.30pm (CST) - Friday 24

Note: China is four hours behind New Zealand, also times are subject to change

PH: 64 4 498 5950 – FAX: 64 4 472 3623 Level 4, 3-9 Church St, PO Box 6052, Wellington www.basketball.org.nz – email: [email protected]