New Zealand Premiere Team North face the University of Hawaii Womens Basketball team at Auckland Boys Grammar School tip-off 5.30pm on Thursday August 9th.
The two teams will practice at YMCA Auckland on the morning of the game.
NZIBT team members Penina Davidson and Alyssa Hirawani played for the Tall Ferns team that won gold at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan last week.
This will be the last game Davidson plays in New Zealand before heading to Australia to link with WNBL club Adelaide Lightning as she embarks on her first professional contract since graduating from University of California, Berkeley.
New Zealand International Basketball Tours (NZIBT) successfully hosted University of California Golden Bears last year and have once again attracted a high profile NCAA Division I college to tour New Zealand.
The game against Cal attracted over 115,000 on-line viewers in addition to the 1,000 spectators that witnessed the game live at North Shore Events Centre.
In addition to the game in Auckland the Rainbow Wahine will be play at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch on August 12th. The New Zealand Premiere teams have been selected from players that played in the recently concluded Womens Basketball Championship (WBC).
The North and South teams each have two current Tall Ferns as well as a blend of veteran WBC players and emerging young talent.
Tall Ferns Penina Davidson and Alyssa Hirawani will spearhead the North Team. The experience of the likes of Donna Fermanis, Mikayla Daysh and Veshae Wilkinson will compliment the youthful talent of Tayla Dalton, Shauna Povey, Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Isabelle Cook - all four were recently members of the New Zealand team at the Fiba U18 World Cup in Belarus.
Helen Mathews was also in Belarus and she will be one of three teenagers, alongside Charlotte Whittaker and Sofia Kennedy, in the South Team. Tall Ferns Tessa Boagni and Nicole Ruske return from senior international duty to compliment the experienced core of Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats and Otago Gold Rush players.
NZIBT Sports Tour Director Ashley Gayle is thrilled at the prospect of hosting another top American college womens team.
"We are extremely excited for the opportunity to bring Hawaii University womens basketball team to New Zealand. We encourage you to support the Kiwi players and watch two great games."
Following the games in New Zealand the NZIBT tour continues on across the Tasman. The Rainbow Wahine will match up against SEABL league leaders Diamond Valley Eagles in Melbourne - featuring Tall Fern guard Chevannah Paalvast - followed by a final against the ATC Academy in Sydney.
Schedule in New Zealand
August 9th - NZ Premiere North v University of Hawaii, 5.30pm tip-off at Auckland Grammar School, 55-87 Mountain Road, Epsom.
August 12th - NZ Premiere South v University of Hawaii, 4.30pm tip-off at Cowles Stadium, Christchurch.
NZ Premiere North
Penina Davidson, Tayla Dalton, Keeley Tini (all Harbour Breeze), Alyssa Hirawani (Waikato Wizards), Shauna Povey, Sharne Pupuke-Robati (both Auckland Dream), Isabelle Cook (Taranaki Thunder), Arielle Parai, Donna Fermanis, Veshae Wilkinson (all Waikato Country Cannons), Makayla Daysh (Tauranga City Coasters).
Coaches: Justine Reed and Tania Hunter
Manager: Bronwen Davidson
NZ Premiere South
Tessa Boagni, Shea Crotty, Sofia Kennedy, Tessa Morrison, Connie Poletti, Helen Matthews (all Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats), Nicole Ruske, Soraya Umaga-Jensen, Natalie Smith (all Otago Gold Rush), Charlotte Whittaker (North Canterbury Spirit)
Coaches: Todd Marshall and Lori McDaniel
Manager: Josh Thompson
- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Basketball New Zealand
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