June 25, 2012

2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament Central

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford Women's Basketball alumna Jillian Harmon '09 (New Zealand) began competition this week at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Ankara, Turkey in hopes of her second Olympic appearance.

Harmon made her Olympic debut for New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Twelve countries were entered in the last-chance event, in which the final five Olympic bids are at stake. The 12 teams are split into four three-team groups, with the top two teams of each group advancing to the quarterfinals after two games of intra-group round-robin play.

From there, the four quarterfinal game winners earn Olympic bids. The four quarterfinal losers will then play a four-team tournament with the winner earning the fifth and final spot at this summer's Olympic Games in London.

Harmon and the Tall Ferns began Group B play Monday in Ankara, ending up on the losing end of a 70-51 decision against the Czech Republic. Harmon led the Tall Ferns with nine points and seven rebounds in the contest. New Zealand fell behind 20-6 after the opening quarter and never recovered.

The Tall Ferns close group play against Argentina Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. PT (4:45 p.m. local time in Ankara). A loss will end New Zealand's Olympic hopes, while a victory combined with an Argentine loss to the Czech Republic Wednesday would send the Tall Ferns through to the quarterfinal round.

Should New Zealand and Argentina each finish 1-1, the team with the best point differential will advance.