Basketball: NZ women suffer fourth loss

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - The New Zealand women's basketball team suffered their fourth consecutive loss on the road, going down 62-74 to Lithuania in a six-nation tournament match at Ankara, Turkey today.

The Tall Ferns trailed 24-34 at halftime, with coach Tom Maher unhappy with their performance until that point against a side ranked 11th in the world.

However, their additional height was difficult to overcome, he admitted.

"They are one of the basketball powerhouses," he said. "They were bigger, quicker and more experienced.

"We are short, ridiculously short, so we have to come up with a system that's going to release the pressure."

New Zealand did well to keep the Lithuanians, who didn't qualify for the Olympics, in check, and won the fourth quarter 23-22.

Gina Farmer, the tallest in the side at 1.88m, scored a game high with 20 points, while rookie Angela Marino continued to impress with 14. Donna Loffhagen scored 13.

Sandra Vulzyte was Lithuania's top scorer with 12 points.

The Tall Ferns also have injury concerns with guard Megan Compain out of action for at least a week, with a tear to her left calf muscle. That will probably ruling her out of the rest of New Zealand's pre-Olympic tournament.

She missed the entire domestic season, including the Tall Ferns' series against Poland and Korea, after tearing the same calf in the British league final.

She faces a battle to regain full fitness before their opening game against the United States in Athens.

Lithuania: 74 (S Valuzyte 12). New Zealand: 62 (G Farmer 20, A Marino 14, D Loffhagen 13). Halftime: Lithuania 34-24.

- NZPA