Rangers advance to prelim final

Updated February 26, 2012 18:28:14

The Rangers overturned a seven-point deficit in the last quarter to defeat Townsville 77-66 in the WNBL minor semi-final in Dandenong.

The hosts trailed 65-58 with just over seven minutes to go, but outscored the fading Fire 19-1 over the remainder of the game, notching the last 13 points.

The Rangers, who have won seven straight games, will play the preliminary final against minor premier Adelaide, which they beat by 20 and 31-point margins in their past two encounters.

The Fire, coming off a midweek elimination final home win over Sydney, missed their last nine field goal attempts.

Jenna O'Hea topscored for the Rangers with 24, but it was Canadian centre Krista Phillips who shone brightest for the home team.

She tallied 17 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Phillips also shut down Shanavia Dowdell after half-time, the American scoring just two of her 16 points after the long break.

With Dowdell and Jess Foley (six points from two of 11 field goal attempts) struggling, it was teenager forward Nadeen Payne who kept the Fire competitive.

The Australian junior representative scored 18 points in just under 22 minutes.

The Rangers led by three at the first break and one at half-time.

There were seven lead changes in the first three and a half minutes of the third quarter before the Fire logged nine straight points and led by six at three-quarter time.

AAP

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, dandenong-3175

First posted February 26, 2012 18:28:14

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No surpirses in Opals prelim squad

Updated February 16, 2012 19:44:20

Australian women's basketball coach Carrie Graf has called in the superstars, but also rewarded those who secured Olympic qualification in a preliminary Games squad featuring few surprises.

Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor and Liz Cambage headline the 24-player squad as expected.

But Graf has also kept faith with the best performers in the second-tier outfit, which secured Olympic qualification last September, clean-sweeping the Oceania series against New Zealand.

Talls Suzy Batkovic and Abby Bishop, and Hungarian-based small forward Hanna Zavecz have all been included.

The three were excellent against the Tall Ferns, while Batkovic and Bishop have been dominant for the Adelaide Lightning this season in the WNBL.

The Opals' Games preparation starts with a selection camp in mid-March ahead of the official pre-Olympic training camp in May at the AIS.

Also included in the squad is veteran point guard Kristi Harrower, who has been playing well in the WNBL for Bendigo Spirit despite battling injuries for the past 12 months.

Graf sees the 36-year-old, who is aiming to make her fourth Olympics, as a vital part of the squad if she can maintain her fitness ahead of the tournament.

The final Olympic squad will be named in late June.

Opals squad: Suzy Batkovic, Abby Bishop, Liz Cambage, Rohanee Cox, Rachael Flanagan, Cayla Francis, Kristi Harrower, Laura Hodges, Natalie Hurst, Lauren Jackson, Rachel Jarry, Kathleen Macleod, Jenna O'Hea, Elyse Penaluna, Erin Phillips, Alicia Poto, Sam Richards, Jennifer Screen, Belinda Snell, Penny Taylor, Marianna Tolo, Kristen Veal, Carly Wilson, Hanna Zavecz

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, australia

First posted February 16, 2012 19:44:20

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