Basketball: Tall Ferns upset South Korea

8.40pm - By JENNI RUTHERFORD

ATHENS - The New Zealand women's basketball team secured just the second win of their Olympics involvement with an 81-73 upset victory against Korea here today.

The Tall Ferns had never won a game in the preliminary round at the Olympics before today's impressive effort against the side that finished fourth at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

New Zealand managed their first Olympic victory at Sydney in the play-off for 11th and 12th place against Senegal.

The Tall Ferns ensured a good foundation, racing to a 10-point lead during the first quarter. Young guard Angela Marino finished the first quarter with nine points after she shot New Zealand to a 21-11 advantage with her third three-point basket on the buzzer.

A strong defensive effort from double international Donna Loffhagen and a sharp shooting display led by guard Megan Compain in the second period kept the Tall Ferns on top -- 37-26 -- and in command at halftime.

Korea couldn't buy a basket in the first half, with their three-point shooting particularly poor. They finished the first 20 minutes with 18 per cent (3 out of 17) of their three-point attempts hitting home.

But at the start of the second half, the Koreans scored four quick baskets from beyond the arc and in a blink of an eye were within one point of the Kiwis.

However, the Tall Ferns refused to give up their lead and drew away to 63-49 heading into the final quarter.

It was a matter of hanging on for the determined Tall Ferns as Korea made a last ditch effort for their first triumph of these Olympics.

As the Koreans threw all their weight behind a last-minute comeback, New Zealand rallied. Loffhagen scored a crucial two points in the last minute and the Tall Ferns held out for the unlikely but deserved victory.

- NZPA