KEY POINTS:
The injury-depleted Tall Ferns got some encouragement for this month's Olympic warm-up basketball tournament with an improved 80-60 loss to Australia's Opals in Canberra yesterday.
Already without Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe and Jess McCormack, and with forward Lisa Wallbutton withdrawing, they also had to contend with the absence of Noni Wharemate and Charmian Purcell.
They previously lost 84-39 to the Opals.
