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AUSTRALIA collected another Oceania Championship today, brushing aside a gallant New Zealand 84-66 at AIS Arena in Canberra behind Lauren Jackson's 21-point haul.

The Opals completed the clean sweep 2-0 despite New Zealand's co-captains Micaela Cocks and Toni Edmondson battling gamely.

Edmondson stroked a three at the siren to finish with a series-high 26 points, Cocks a constant threat for her 25 points, the duo providing the Tall Ferns with 51 of their 66 points.

Unable to find other offensive contributors though, New Zealand was never going to keep up with the Aussies after a highly competitive first half.

Australia led 39-34 at the main break but as they had in the series opening 66-50 win in Auckland on Wednesday, the Opals broke open the game with an 11-0 run shortly after halftime.

Three consecutive triples by Belinda Snell and a sweet pass from Nat Hurst to Kelly Wilson blew it further away to an 18-2 sequence and 57-36 lead.

Kalani Purcell and Cocks bobbed up as architects of a mini 8-0 New Zealand resistance but it was futile in the face of so many Opals scoring threats.

When Jackson closed the third quarter with a three, Australia was ahead 66-48, the Opals a largely academic quarter away from confirming their spot at next year's FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

The Opals stretched their lead to as many as 23 before some late long baskets by the visitors made the scoreline slightly more flattering.

Playmaker Hurst snared a game-high 10 boards and Marianna Tolo rocked the Tall Ferns, blocking three shots.

Jackson dominated the early going with Australia's first seven points but was being matched by fellow Tall Ferns co-captain Edmondson.

Edmondson hit the game's first three to give New Zealand an 8-5 lead and her fast break bucket pushed the Tall Ferns to a 10-7 lead.

But Laura Hodges muscling inside, Snell nailing a three and Kristen Veal swishing a back-up triple quickly made it 15-10 for the Opals.

Again it was Edmondson who drew her team back, a drive for a jumpshot and free throws at 2:39 tying the game at 16-16.

Veal and Tess Madgen, both from the free throw line, pushed Australia's lead to 20-16 at the first break, Edmondson with nine points and New Zealand's 11-6 rebound edge keeping the Tall Ferns in it.

A long Hurst basket had Australia's lead out to 24-18 with 7:56 to halftime before consecutive threes by Lisa Wallbutton and Cocks tied the score.

Isn't it great we have these gals playing in our WNBL?

Opals coach Brendan Joyce took time-out but it did not stem the flow, Cocks from the stripe giving New Zealand back the lead 26-24 in an 8-0 run.

A Cayla Francis step-back shot locked it back at 26-26 before Edmondson again cut loose, first with a strong driving basket, next with a three-quarter-court length pass to Kalani Purcell which she laid in behind the Opals defence.

Cocks, who also was asserting herself, added two free throws, New Zealand's lead 32-26 off what had been a 14-2 roll.

Tolo ignited the Aussies with a strong scoop basket, then blocked a shot by Megan Craig which set Snell away downcourt for a long three.

Kelly Wilson's drive restored Australia's lead at 35-34, Hurst and Tolo extending it to 39-34 by halftime, Tall Ferns starter Casey Lockwood collecting her fourth foul 18.6 seconds before the interval.

A quarter which the Tall Ferns appeared to control finished with Australia winning it 19-18 and leaving coach Kennedy Kereama with huge problems at the break. 

Paraphrasing the great Leroy Loggins' catch-cry of "I don't predict, I produce", Joyce said: "We don't predict, we prepare."

Now they can start preparing for a world championship.

AUSTRALIA OPALS 84 (Jackson 21, Snell 17, Wilson 10) d NEW ZEALAND TALL FERNS 66 (Edmondson 26, Cocks 25) at AIS Arena, Canberra. Australia wins series 2-0.