Mormon Olympians compete on N.Z. basketball team

BEIJING — Three members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints competed on New Zealand's Olympic women's basketball team Wednesday in Beijing, which lost to China, 80-63.Charmian Purcell played almost 15 minutes, scoring six points. She had one offensive and one defensive rebound. The guard from the Christchurch Sirens in Christchurch, N.Z., was named the country's under-23 Most Valuable Player in 2001.Forward Natalie Purcell, Charmian's younger sister, scored five points in her nearly 11 minutes of play. She had one offensive and two defensive rebounds. Also a member of the Christchurch Sirens, Natalie was named Most Valuable Player in New Zealand's Women's Basketball League in 2007 and was chosen in the All-Star Five that same season. She attended Hutchinson Community College in Kansas before transferring to Southeast Missouri State University, where she helped the team to the 2006 NCAA Tournament and registered a double-double in its first round loss to Stanford University. Natalie also received all placings at the 2004 Olympic games and 2006 World Championships.Nonila Wharemate had eight attempts but no points in her nearly 12 minutes of play. She had one defensive rebound and one assist. Another member of the Christchurch Sirens, this guard was named New Zealand WNBL defensive player of the year in 2001. She captained the New Zealand Tall Ferns on the tour of Japan in 2007. Wharemate also played for the University of Texas El Paso, where she set a career record for assists. She received All Placings at the 2004 Olympic games and 2006 world Championships.New Zealand was down all of the game, at one point losing by 21 points. The team went on an eight-point scoring run, which brought its final score to 63.  New Zealand will next face the Czech Republic Friday.