Media contact Media access to the NZ Tall Ferns is available through

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1 NZ Tall Ferns 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Ankara, Turkey June 25-July 1 MEDIA GUIDE

2 Media contact Media access to the NZ Tall Ferns is available through Grant Chapman Tall Ferns Media Manager Mobile Basketball New Zealand would like to the following organisations for their support

3 2012 NZ Tall Fern programme Pre-Tour Camp June 1/2 Tall Fern Trials NZ Breakers/North Shore Events Centre June 3-5 Tall Fern Camp NZ Breakers/North Shore Events Centre Tour of China June 8 v China Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China 7.30pm June 9 v Australia Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China 3.30pm June 10 v Angola Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China 3.30pm June 13 v China Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China 7pm June 14 v Australia Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China 9pm June 15 v Angola Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China 9pm June The Tall Ferns will play additional preparation games against China B, schedule still to be finalised. FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament June 25 v Czech Republic Ankara, Turkey 4.45pm June 26 v Argentina Ankara, Turkey 4.45pm London Olympics July 28-August 11

4 Tried and true for TF s NZ Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama has sprung few surprises in his 16-strong squad to prepare for a list-ditch attempt to qualify for the London Olympics. American-born Casey Lockwood is the only athlete yet to suit up for the national women s basketball team and her inclusion is dependent on medical clearance for a knee injury. All other players named have represented New Zealand since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Over the past 12 months, the Tall Ferns coaching staff has monitored the progress of players on our Olympic long list, through their performance in leagues, camps and tours, says Kereama, now in his third year as head coach. We believe we ve selected the 16 players that give New Zealand the best chance of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. The squad includes seven survivors from Beijing guards Micaela Cocks, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe and Noni Wharemate, and forwards Jillian Harmon, Charmian Mellars, Natalie Taylor and Lisa Wallbutton. The two most notable omissions are guard Suzie Bates, who also played at Beijing, and two-time Olympian Angela Marino. Bates (24), a dual international, has made herself unavailable to concentrate on her duties as White Ferns cricket captain. Marino (26) missed last year s FIBA Oceania Championship through injury and hasn t turned out for the Tall Ferns in four years. This is a very different programme to the one Angela last Toni Edmondson (Photosport) played in, says Kereama. Since then, we ve developed a roster of players that are now very familiar with each other and are better suited to this campaign. She s given outstanding service to the Tall Ferns in the past and the door is not closed on her returning in the future. But this year, we re sticking with the players we know. The squad will assemble later this month before 12 players are selected for a tour of China. From June 25-July 1, Turkey will host New Zealand and 11 other countries trying to nail down one of five remaining spots still available for the London Olympics. The Tall Ferns, ranked 16th in the world, face the Czech Republic (fourth) and Argentina (12th) in pool play.

5 2012 Tall Fern Squad Name Position Height Club Micaela Cocks Guard May 2, m Townsville Fire (Australia) Rebecca Dew Centre May 22, m University of Hawaii (US) Toni Edmondson Guard May 10, m Adelaide Lightning (Australia) Natasha Hall Forward Aug 24, m Harbour Breeze Jillian Harmon Forward Mar 3, m Pool Comense (Italy) Jordan Hunter Guard Aug 20, m Crowder College (US) Karlene Kingi Centre Oct 31, m Harbour Breeze Casey Lockwood Forward Nov 5, m Townsville Fire (Australia) Patrice McKenzie Forward June 23, m Frankston Blues (Aust) Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe Guard Nov 19, m Logan Thunder (Australia) Charmian Mellars Forward Jan 7, m Sheffield Hatters (UK) Erin Rooney Guard Sept 3, m Fordham University (US) Natalie Taylor Forward Dec 24, m Logan Thunder (Australia) Jelena Vucinic Guard Aug 1, m Louisianna Tech (US) Lisa Wallbutton Forward Jan 14, m Bendigo Spirit (Australia) Noni Wharemate Guard Jan 17, m Harbour Breeze

6 Player Profiles Micaela Cocks Height 1.74m Position Guard May 2, 1986 at North Shore Cocks represented her country through all age groups and debuted for the Tall Ferns at the 2005 William Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan. Cocks won a silver medal with the national team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and took up a scholarship at University of Oregon later that same year. Cocks played for the Ferns at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was Most Valuable Player at Oregon in her senior year, before brief stints playing professionally in Poland and France. She made her Australian WNBL debut for the Townsville Fire last summer, averaging 10.4 points a game. Rebecca Dew Height 1.93m May 22, 1990, at Gainesville, Florida (US) American-born Dew qualifies to represent New Zealand through naturalisation and played her junior basketball for North Harbour. She debuted for the Tall Ferns against Japan in 2007 and has just completed a scholarship at the University of Hawaii, where she achieved Western Athletic Conference academic honours. Younger brother Ben is also on the Hawaii football team. Antonia Edmondson Height 1.81m Position Guard/Forward May 10, 1987, at Christchurch Edmondson represented New Zealand through the age groups, debuted for the Tall Ferns on a tour of China in 2007 and was the last player cut from the 2008 Beijing Olympic roster. She played extensively as a development player for the Christchurch Sirens during their 2007/08 season in the Australian WNBL and has since played for Dandenong Rangers, Bendigo Spirit and Adelaide Lightning. Natasha Hall Height 1.83m August 24, 1991 at Colchester (England) Hall was born in England and qualifies to play for New Zealand through naturalisation. She has played her representative basketball for the Harbour association and has been a part of their successful women s programme in recent years. She made her Tall Ferns debut in 2009 against Japan, before facing Australia in the FIBA Oceania Championships.

7 Jillian Harmon Height 1.85m March 3, 1987, at New York (US) Harmon was playing at Stanford University when she declared her eligibility for the Tall Ferns through Kiwi mother Julie in Just days after helping the Cardinal to the NCAA championship final (where they lost to University of Tennessee), she debuted with the Tall Ferns at the Good Luck Beijing tournament, compiling a double double (17 points/11 rebounds) in their first ever win over Australia. Later that year, Harmon starred for New Zealand at the Beijing Olympics and has now played four professional seasons with Pool Comense in Italy. Jordan Hunter Height 1.68m Position Guard August 20, 1990, at Auckland Hunter represented New Zealand through the age group programmes and made her Tall Fern debut against Japan in Over the past two years, she has attended Crowder College in Missouri, where she averaged 13.3 points (86% FT), 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals last season and was named to the NJCAA Region 16 first team. Later this year, she will transfer to Southeast Missouri State University. Karlene Kingi Height 1.88m Position Centre October 31, 1985 at Hamilton Kingi helped Tonga to fourth place at the 2003 Oceania Games and the following year, was a member of the Avondale College team that won the NZ Secondary Schools title. She debuted with the Tall Ferns against Japan in 2007 and played for the Christchurch Sirens during their short-lived tenure in the Australian WNBL. Kingi has been a key contributor to the success of the Harbour women s programme in recent years. Casey Lockwood Height 1.83m November 5, 1985, at Ross, California (US) California-born Lockwood visited New Zealand on vacation three years ago and never left, eventually achieving her citizenship earlier this year. She majored in religion at Princeton University, where she started all 56 games of her junior and senior years. Lockwood first appeared on the NZ radar when she helped Southland to the 2009 Divisional title and was MVP when Otago Goldrush took out the 2011 Women s Basketball Championship title. She played last Australian WNBL season with the Townsville Fire, but has yet to suit up for the Tall Ferns.

8 Patrice McKenzie Height 1.82m June 23, 1986, at Dunedin After representing New Zealand through the junior grades, McKenzie spent four years on scholarship at Dodge City Community College, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida Southern College. She debuted for the Tall Ferns in Japan in 2010 after being named in the Women s Basketball Championship all-star five. She played for Frankston Blues in last year s South East Australia Basketball League, averaging 13.8 points and 8.4 rebounds as Blues MVP. Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe Height 1.73m Position Guard November 19, 1979, at Christchurch Now the veteran of the Tall Ferns programme, McMeeken-Ruscoe first played for New Zealand as a teenager in 1998 and went on to a successful US college career with University of Buffalo. She was MVP of the 2003 WNBL, helping Wellington Swish to the title, and has played professionally in Germany and Australia. She was signed by the Christchurch Sirens and captained them during their 2007/08 season in the Aussie WNBL. Mother Jane McMeeken is also a former NZ women s captain and Kate finally played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after missing the cut for two previous Games. She played for Logan Thunder last summer in the Aussie WNBL. Charmian Mellars Height 1.80m January 7, 1979 at Papakura Mellars (nee Purcell) made her Tall Fern debut in 2001 against Australia, but didn t return to the national team until She played for the Sydney Flames in the Australian WNBL in 2005/06 and won a silver medal with the Ferns at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She was one of the first players to sign for the Christchuch-based Sirens in the Australian WNBL, but sat out most of the season with a knee injury. Mellars hasn t played for the Ferns since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but she was MVP of the 2009 Women s Basketball Championship and while husband Vince plays league for Wakefield Trinity, she has kept her basketball career alive with the Sheffield Hatters in England. Erin Rooney Height 1.73m Position Guard Sept 3, 1990 at Christchurch Rooney represented New Zealand through the Basketball New Zealand age group programme and first wore the Tall Ferns uniform against the University of Wisconsin in She returned to the national side against Japan in 2009, but has since played on scholarship in the United States two years at Monmouth University and a year on the sidelines tansferring to Fordham University. As a sophomore, Rooney averaged 11.1 points per game for the Hawks and was Northeast Conference Defensive Player.

9 Natalie Taylor Height 1.83m December 24, 1982, at Auckland Taylor (nee Purcell) joined older sister Charmian Purcell in the Tall Ferns in She had attended Hutchinson Community College, before transferring to Southeast Missouri State University. Taylor was MVP of the 2007 Women s CBL finals, shooting 13/16 3pt over the playoffs to steer Harbour to the title, then played for Christchurch Sirens in their Australian WNBL season. She was on the 2008 Beijing Olympic roster and played for the Logan Thunder in the Aussie league, before marrying professional rugby player Ezra Taylor and heading to Ireland. Natalie helped University of Limerick to the 2011 Irish Superleague title and was named Import Player of the Year. She returned to the Thunder for the 2011/12 AWNBL season. Jelena Vucinic Height 1.74m Position Guard August 1, 1991, at Nelson Vucinic was a four-year tournament team selection at the NZ Secondary Schools Championships In her first year of a scholarship at Lousianna Tech, she earned the Lady Techster Award for best exemplifying what the programme was all about. Vucinic debuted for the Tall Ferns in 2010 on a tour of Japan, following in the footsteps of mother/former Tall Fern Tatjana Zizic and father/former Tall Black/current national team coach Nenad Vucinic. She returned from the US last year to help Nelson Sparks finish runners-up in the Women s Basketball Championship, earning Junior Player of the Year and All-Star Five honours. Lisa Wallbutton Height 1.83m January 14, 1986, at Auckland Another product of the Basketball New Zealand High Performance programme, Wallbutton represented New Zealand at all age groups and earned honours at a variety of national tournaments. She was Outstanding Young Player in the 2004 & 2005 WNBL seasons, and was a member of the All-Star Fives in 05 and 06. Wallbutton debuted for the Tall Ferns in 2005 and played for the Christchurch Sirens in the 2007/08 Australian WNBL, before competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Wallbutton has now played for Dandenong, Adelaide and, most recently, Bendigo Spirit in the AWNBL. She was also leading rebounder in the 2011 South East Australia Basketball League, averaging 15.5 points and 11.2 boards for Albury Wodonga.

10 Noni Wharemate Height 1.71m Position Point Guard January 17, 1982, at Hamilton Wharemate spent a very successful college stint with the University of Texas El Paso, setting a school record for career assists. She was Best Defensive Player in the 2001 WNBL and made her Tall Fern debut in Wharemate was part of the Ferns squad that won silver medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and was selected to the All-Star Five at the Women s CBL finals in both 2006 & She captained the Tall Ferns through much of 2007 and was one of the first signings to play with the Christchurch Sirens in their Australian WNBL season. After the Beijing Olympics, she wasn t available for the Ferns until earning MVP honours at the 2010 Women s Basketball Championship, and returned for the team s tour to Japan, but again bypassed last year s campaign as she toyed with retirement. Coach: Kennedy Kereama After serving as Tall Ferns video technician at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kereama stepped into an assistant coaching role under Shawn Dennis the following year and inherited the top job 12 months later when Dennis stepped down. He guided the Ferns to victory over Japan in Japan in his headcoaching debut and added the scalp of China in China last year. Kereama cut his teeth as assistant coach of the Christchurch Sirens in 2007/08 and later coached in the South East Australia Basketball League with Albury Wodonga and Sandringham Sabres. Last year, he was assistant role with Townsville Fire in the Australian WNBL last summer and has just landed the role as head coach of the West Coast Waves next summer. Aik Ho Dean Kinsman Gail McLauchlan Sharon Choie Assistant coach Assistant coach Manager Physiotherapist

11 New Zealand 2012 Oceania Runners Up Yet to qualify for London Olympics 16th The Opposition China 2010 World Championshps 13th 2011 FIBA Asia Championships Qualified for London Olympics Seventh Last Encounter NZ (2011) Australia 2010 World Championships Fifth 2011 FIBA Oceania Champions Qualified for London Olympics Second Last Encounter Australia (2011) Angola 2011 FIBA Africa Champions Third Qualified for London Olympics 15th Last Encounter NZ (2008) Czech Republic 2010 World Championships Runners-up 2011 FIBA Eurobasket Fourth Yet to qualify for London Olympics Fourth Last Encounter Czech Argentina 2010 World Championships 14th 2011 FIBA Americas Championships Second Yet to qualify for London Olympics 12th Last Encounter NZ (2007)