Go Ferns!

The New Zealand Tall Ferns defeated Australia 63-59 in the last preliminary game of the Good Luck Beijing Tournament!

The Kiwi's historic victory over their rivals in sport, but their allies in battle, happened on ANZAC Day:

The term ANZAC originated as an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, an army corps of Australian and New Zealand troops who fought against the Turks in 1915 at the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I. Within Australasia, ANZAC came to stand not just for the troops in World War I, but for Australian and New Zealand soldiers in time of war more generally. Anzac Day is observed annually in memory of those soldiers who died in war. It is commemorated each year by both countries on April 25, the date of the first landing at Gallipoli in 1915 on a beach known as ANZAC Cove. (Thanks, Wikipedia)

Coach McHugh observed, "... we just hung in there through pure guts and determination." 

Sounds like Jillian, doesn't it?   Jillian led the Tall Ferns to their first-ever victory over Australia. She had a double-double: the team-high 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Here is a the game report from the Tall Ferns and the box score.

New Zealand will play Korea on Saturday in the 5th/6th place playoff match of the tournament. <