Tiarna Clarke has warmed up for the Commonwealth Games with a three-point shot.
The 23-year-old, who will represent the Tall Ferns 3×3 at the sport’s first appearance at the Games in Birmingham, gave a shooting clinic on Sunday.
She played for the Mid-North Whai in their thump of 99-69 at mainland Pouākai in Christchurch – with 11 threes, a New Zealand women’s record, with 34 points.
The Whai’s victory takes them to a 3-2 record in the new Tauihi league and sets them up for a top-flight showdown in Tauranga on Tuesday against undefeated Northern Kāhu.
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Clarke had a great touch for the Whai with 33 of her 34 points coming from three-point country.
Nine of her three came in the second half, including six in the third quarter when the Whai defeated the Pouākai 41-22 in the period to take control.
The Pouākai had been in the game until then, trailing just four points at halftime (36-32).
Three weeks after the inaugural Tauihi competition, the Kāhu remain the only side with a perfect record.
The Auckland-North Country side showed once again why they are the title favorites at the start of the season, moving to 5-0 with an 81-76 win over scoreless Southern Hoiho.
Chris Symes/Photosport
Micaela Cocks, pictured in a previous match, scored 22 points when the Kāhu defeated the Hoiho and went unbeaten.
Most had expected the undefeated Kāhu to finish with easy winners on Friday at Auckland’s Hoiho, but they were pushed to their limits.
It was the Hoiho who led 17-15 after the first quarter, fueling hopes for their first win of the league and a massive upset.
The Kāhu predictably got into their rhythm and took a 38-31 lead at halftime, but were never able to dodge the brave Hoiho.
A Zoe Richards three with 48 seconds to go made for a thrilling finish with the Hoiho clawing within two at 76-74.
Veteran Lange Varen Micaela Cocks stabbed the other side and answered with a three to bring the margin to five.
Cocks once again showed her quality, with a team-high 22 points and four assists for the Kahu.
Australian guard Tahlia Tupaea, Tauihi’s best player by three rounds, had another strong all-round game with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
American striker Laina Snyder went out of his way to lift the Hoiho to their first win and once again shone with 32 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
The Pouākai are said to have been disappointed by their underpowered performance against the Whai, having defeated the Tokomanawa Queens in Wellington three days earlier.
American striker Trinity Baptiste drove the Pouākai to a 69-66 win over the Queens with 27 points and eight rebounds.
It stood at 64 with just over a minute left of a Florencia Chagas bucket, but Baptiste nailed four straight free throws to take the win.
The Hoiho and Queens will close the third round in Dunedin on Wednesday (7 p.m. start) with the southerners aiming for their first victory.
AT A GLANCE:
Tauihi round three:
At TSB Arena, Wellington: mainland Pouākai 69 (Trinity Baptiste 27, Tessa Boagni 13, Ella Fotu 10) Tokomanawa Queens 66 (Jaime Nared 24, Elin Gustavsson 12, Florencia Chagas 10, Jacinta Beckley 10) 1Q: 17-19, HT: 35-29, 3Q: 49-44.
At Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland: North Kahu 81 (Micaela Cocks 22, Tahlia Tupaea 14, Ashleigh Kelman-Photo 13, Madison Wolf 12) Southern Hoiho 76 (Laina Snyder 32, Shelby Cheslek 13) 1Q: 15-17, HT: 38-31, HT: 60-51.
At Cowles Stadium, Christchurch: Mid-North Whai 99 (Tiarna Clarke 34, Kyra Lambert 22, Nikki Greene 17) Mainland Pouākai 69 (Baptiste 20, Erin Whalen 20) 1Q: 19-18, HT: 36-32, 3Q: 77-54.
Position: Horses 5-0, Horses 3-2, Horses 3-3, Queens 2-3, Horses 0-5.