Results
A dominant final quarter, after an early arm-wrestle, eventually pushed Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel to a comfortable 73-63 win over LG Mystics in Auckland on Sunday. It took Steel three-quarters of the match to wrest control, absorbing a ton of pressure before building on a three-goal lead at three-quarter time through the exploits of their no-frills midcourt and dynamism of captain Jodi Brown and shooting prowess of dominant Jamaican import Jhaniele Fowler.
Bottom of the table Mystics were a vastly improved team from previous outings, more than holding their own for much of the match but unable to stem the southern tide down the home straight. In a rare opportunity the 1.87m Bailey Mes got the nod at goal shoot ahead of Cathrine Latu for Mystics while Grace Rasmussen slotted into wing attack, Erikana Pederson at centre and Kayla Cullen at her preferred wing defence. Steel presented with a predictable line-up that has served them well in recent weeks.
The turnovers and slow starts which have blighted Mystics throughout the season were mostly absent as the home team made a sharp start to compete on level terms with the southerners. Mes and captain Maria Tuatia were confident under the hoop while Mystics defensive pressure did a solid of job of slowing the ball to 1.98m Steel danger shooter Fowler. Cullen relished her return to wing defence, snapping up a string of intercepts as Steel struggled with their transition through the attacking third. That helped Mystics creep out to a four-goal lead before a strong surge by Steel left the home team with a tenuous 16-15 lead at the first break.
