Basketball: Tall Ferns lose series

Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe scored 11 points for the Tall Ferns. Photo / Chris Skelton

A top performance from Jillian Harmon was in vain as the New Zealand women's basketball team suffered a series loss to Japan at Yamagata yesterday.

Harmon was in inspirational form as she provided 34 points only to see the Tall Ferns lose the third match 71-86 and the series 1-2.

She lacked scoring support, with Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe the only other New Zealander to reach double figures with her 11 points.

The Japanese grabbed the initiative midway through the second period with 12 unanswered points to reach halftime with a 47-40 lead.

The Tall Ferns stayed in the contest to trail by just five points entering the final quarter before Japan

started the final stanza with a decisive 7-0 run which effectively snuffed out New Zealand's challenge.

Result:

Japan 86 New Zealand 71 (Jillian Harmon 34, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe 11). Halftime: 47-40. Japan won three-match series 2-1.

- NZPA