Repeat 3-Peat for Lincoln University Dynasty
Lincoln University have defended their UTSNZ 3x3 title again, locking their second 3-peat in the competition. LU has competed in 7 of the 8 National Championships, winning every year apart from 2021 where they lost in the final to the University of Canterbury.
The UTSNZ 3x3 National Championships is a 2-day tertiary competition for NZ universities. The rapidly growing competition is made up of two pools of four. Each team plays each other once before the competition progresses into playoff rounds. This is always a strongly contested event as the teams that make the final qualify to go to the FISU 3x3 Oceania Contentinal Qualifying Tournament, where the winner qualifies for the FISU University World Cup. This year the Oceania tournament is in Brisbane, and the World Cup is in China.
The new-look Rams had their work cut out for them on the first day. A few close calls in their first and last games on Day 1 gave them a 3–0 record and more importantly, an easier quarter-final on Day 2. Finalists University of Waikato gave LU a scare in their first game. After finding themselves on the wrong side of a 6-point deficit Lincoln caught fire from 2-point range and stole a 16–15 win. Game 3 was almost a similar story, a 15–8 lead against the University of Auckland slowly slipping away through some real grit and determination. After being able to finally tie things up the team from the north was left with their hearts broken after a Maddy Timms buzzer beater sealed the perfect start for Lincoln.
After a team that has been so successful for an extended period loses key components there often tends to be a decline in performance as teams try to find who will fill the shoes left behind. Kate Herman, the single member left on the playing roster for the previous two championships, seemed determined that there was to be no drop in expectations as she willed her way to an MVP-type performance across the two days. Her lights-out shooting and the ability to get to the rim at ease helped LU win their Day 2 games by an average of 10 points, locking in the repeat 3-peat and their 6th National 3x3 Championship.
Early on it looked like the University of Otago would be the team to join Lincoln in the final, and go at least one better than the 3rd placed finish they had in 2023. Those hopes were dealt a huge blow after Caitlin O’Connell was ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. The Southerners continued their push for a final birth through some inspiring play but came up short after a gut-wrenching 20–19 loss against the University of Waikato. A 15–12 win over the University of Auckland meant that OU wouldn’t go home empty-handed, finishing with another 3rd place finish for 2024.
The University of Canterbury showed that their programme is still on the rise, pumping out several good wins on their way to a 5th place finish. After a tough quarter-final, they were able to move on and secure back-to-back wins to finish their weekend.
Tournament Team
Kate Herman (Lincoln), Hana Lacey-Rameka (Lincoln), Tyler Mitchell (Otago), Kayl Manuirirangi (Waikato)
