Basketball: Tall Ferns close gap

New Zealand's slow start cost them again when they went down 64-60 to Japan in the second women's basketball test in Tokyo yesterday. Point guard Angela Marino led the Tall Ferns' rally after they were again slow out of the blocks, trailing by 13 points after the first quarter.

They had tied the game at 55-55 with just under four minutes left. But Japan then scored the next eight points to ensure victory. Coach Mike McHugh was delighted with his team's improvement from the previous 17-point loss.