Basketball: Tall Ferns too good for Cuban ring-ins

The New Zealand women's basketball team overcame a game-day surprise to beat a composite Cuba junior team 67-56 in the second game of their short tour at Havana yesterday.

After beating the juniors 63-53 the previous day, the Tall Ferns arrived yesterday to find their opponents bolstered by five senior internationals.

The Cubans sprang out to an early lead but had no answer to the visitors' comeback.

"Our great defence ensured an exciting victory," coach Mike McHugh said. "I was particularly pleased with the team's perseverance after trailing by 12 points in the Cubans' first-quarter onslaught.

"It was a much-improved performance from the first game against much stronger opposition."

Captain Donna Loffhagen again led the way with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Micaela Cocks was the top scorer with 14 points.

The Tall Ferns face the full Cuban national team in three televised games in as many days before returning to New Zealand.