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By Jove, another Lightning signing!
TweetJESS Bygate, Tall Ferns international, is the fifth player to join the MAC Adelaide Lightning for the club's 2015-16 WNBL season.
Bygate, 23 and 186cm, has most recently been playing for Gladstone Port City Power in the QBL and was recommended to the Lightning by Gladstone basketball chairman and men's head coach Derek Rucker.
Yes, THAT Derek Rucker, who thrilled NBL fans across the nation with career stops at Brisbane, Newcastle, West Sydney and Townsville, claiming league MVP honours in 1990.
Rucker has had a massive positive influence on the game in Gladstone and Bygate's progress can be monitored by the fact she now is back in the New Zealand national team for the forthcoming Oceania Series with the Opals.
LIGHTNING INTERNATIONAL: Jess Bygate in action for Gladstone in the QBL.
The Tall Ferns will play the William Jones Cup in Taiwan as part of their preparation before a three-Test series against Japan.
The Opals play three Tests against Japan this week, then some additional closed-door matches against Korea ahead of Oceania.
Bygate will join Adelaide after Oceania and completes a quintet of signings led off by Leilani Mitchell, Mikaela Ruef, Kelly Bowen and Mikaela Dombkins.
Lightning coach Tracy York said she had been impressed with what Bygate had to offer when she recently flew down to Adelaide for individual sessions and a couple of training runs.
The Tall Ferns for Oceania include some well known faces in WNBL and Australian basketball.
New Zealand is: Micaela Cocks (Townsville Fire), Jordan Hunter (Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks), Stella Beck (Saint Mary's College), Samara Gallaher (Hume City Broncos), Natalie Taylor (Gladstone Power), Kalani Purcell (Brigham Young University), Chevannah Paalvast (Southern Peninsular Sharks), Lisa Wallbutton (Willetton Tigers), Jess Bygate (Gladstone Power), Megan Craig (Lakeside Lightning), Penina Davidson (University of California), Tessa Boagni (California State University). Coach is Kennedy Kereama.
The Opals are likely to revisit their 16-player squad following revelations today returning Olympic centre Liz Cambage blew off the start of Australian camp for a music festival.
Basketball Australia released a statement tonight saying Cambage was ruled out for the Olympic qualifiers.
Online
