NMI cagebelles play better in loss to Fiji

The CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals put on a decent show in their second game in the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament Monday night at the University of Guam Fieldhouse in Mangilao.

The CNMI cagebelles bowed to Fiji, 46-69, but their second game in the tournament was much better than their debut Sunday morning. The CNMI bets were routed by Tahiti, 30-101.

Against Tahiti, the CNMI had only four players scoring. But when they played Fiji, the CNMI cagebelles had more confidence in their shots resulting in eight players contributing on the team’s offense.

Noelle Calvo top-scored for the CNMI with 10 points, on a 4-for-14 field goal shooting. Jacque Wonenberg, who did not score against Tahiti, had eight against Fiji. Wonenberg shot better on the field, hitting 4-for-7, and collared eight rebounds.

Mercedes Mesa recorded 3-for-4 field goal shooting, adding seven points, while Lia Rangamar and Dion Diaz chipped in six apiece. Nicole Lebria contributed five, Nikita Hofschneider had three, and Yvonne Benett made a free throw.

Playing more relax in their second match, the CNMI cagebelles even outscored Fiji in two quarters.

Fiji took early control of the game, nailing a 25-8 lead after the first period.

But the CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals began hitting their marks in the second period, firing 17 points against Fiji’s 15.

In the third period, the CNMI cagebelles had another double figure output, scoring 14. Fiji had 13 points, but still took a 52-39 lead, entering the final canto.

The CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals slowed down in the fourth period, making only seven points, while Fiji was on target, firing 17 points en route to a 23-point win.

Meleane Mose paced Fiji with 25 points, while Cecelia Oliver and Brittany Hazelman scored 15 apiece.

Fiji out-rebounded the CNMI, 49-22, but had more turnovers than the Commonwealth’s players, 18-14. Fiji had a better field goal shooting, going 31-for-74 for a 40.8-percent clip. The CNMI had 65 field goal attempts and made only 19 for 28.2 percent.

The CNMI cagebelles were playing Australia’s Opals in their last game in Pool A.

The Commonwealth’s women’s team will still advance to the quarterfinals regardless of the results of their game against Australia.

But with a 0-2 record and likely to go down at 0-3, the CNMI cagebelles will be pitted against the No. 1 team in Pool B. Guam is likely to gain the top seeding in Pool B after pulling off a come-from-behind 67-57 win over Caledonia. The host also prevailed over Papua New Guinea, 77-56, and was playing Palau in their last pool game yesterday.

Fiji 69 – Moce 25, Oliver 15, Hazelman 15, L. Seru 6, Fifita 4, P. Seru 2, Singh 2.

CNMI 46 – Calvo 10, Wonenberg 8, Mesa 7, Rangamar 6, Diaz 6, Lebria 5, Hofschneider 3, Yvo. Bennett 1.

Scoring by quarters: 25-8, 39-25, 52-39, 69-46.