Basketball: Korea win series 2-0

Korea made it two from two against the Tall Ferns when winning a bruising women's basketball international 83-75 in New Plymouth on Saturday night.

There was plenty of pushing, shoving and holding from both sides, with most happening off the ball.

A day after narrowly beating the Tall Ferns 70-68 in Palmerston North, the Koreans started strongly and led 21-19 after the first quarter.

The two teams went goal for goal in the second quarter, with the Koreans leading 39-37 at halftime.

Some telling three-point shooting in the third quarter - when Kim Yeong-Ok and Park Jung-Eun both scored twice from the deep - saw the Koreans extend their lead to 61-56.

Every time the Tall Ferns looked likely in the fourth quarter, the Koreans replied and they held on to win comfortably.

Gina Farmer had a strong game for the Tall Ferns, topscoring with a game-high 24. Korean forward Park had a 21-point haul.

Tall Ferns coach Tom Maher said he would name his 12-strong squad for the Athens Olympics in the next week.

- NZPA