The Tall Ferns secured their first victory of their European basketball tour by defeating Poland 73-62 in Istanbul.
After suffering three losses to Serbia, ranked 8th in the world, in Belgrade earlier in the week, New Zealand delivered a strong performance against the Polish team.
Throughout the game, New Zealand maintained an eight-point advantage at halftime, and their lead extended to as much as 15 points in the third quarter. However, Poland mounted a comeback in the final period with a 7-0 run, managing to keep the final score respectable.
Tera Reed led all scorers with 24 points and also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Demonstrating her versatility, Reed connected on three of five three-point attempts and made 11 of 13 free throws. Charlisse Leger-Walker contributed 22 points, while Stella Beck contributed 7 points and 6 rebounds.
The Tall Ferns were scheduled to play their final tour game against Turkey in Istanbul on Sunday morning.
