The Coffee Club Queensland Firebirds maintained their perfect record over the SKYCITY Mystics to kick-start the trans-Tasman round of match-ups this weekend after posting a compelling 70-42 win in Brisbane.
The Firebirds showcased their pedigree and depth with a clinical outing while stretching their record unbeaten run to 19 matches.
It also bettered their previous biggest win of 21 goals against the Mystics while coach Roselee Jencke notched her 70th win to equal the record held by former Adelaide Thunderbirds mentor Jane Woodlands-Thompson.
Scoring the first goal within 15 seconds set the tone for a dominant outing by the Firebirds. The one dampner for the home was the loss of playmaking goal attack Gretel Tippett to a sprained ankle on the stroke of half-time.
Her replacement Chelsea Lemke returned a confident debut, helping the Firebirds pour on the pressure while compounding the Mystics misery.
Changes for the visitors, including the introduction of the league’s tallest player, 203cm shooter Megan Craig, had little effect. Firebirds shooting sensation Romelda Aiken showed her full repertoire in a dazzling outing.
With Anna Harrison slotting into the custodian’s role at goalkeeper, the lanky defender was able to gain some early turnover opportunities for the Mystics.
However, it didn’t take long for the defending champions to find their groove, the Firebirds showing their overall expertise in forcing the Mystics wide with their smothering defence.
Little went right for the Mystics on attack, their cause hindered by a high error rate. There were no such problems for their opponents, in-form wing attack Caitlyn Nevins firing a string of almost unstoppable feeds to scoring machine Aiken as the hosts shot out to a 17-9 lead at the first break.
There was a fleeting glimpse of resistance from the Mystics on the resumption before normal Firebirds service resumed.
Mahalia Cassidy replaced Kim Ravaillion at centre midway through the second stanza, the zippy midcourter in the thick of action immediately with the Firebirds not missing a beat.
An 11-goal unanswered scoring streak by the Firebirds left the Mystics struggling for answers, Aiken going on to return her best half of the season with a 27-goal personal haul as the Firebirds waltzed into the half-time break with a 35-19 lead.
Restricting the Mystics to just nine goals, it was all the home side as they headed down the home straight with a commanding 56-28 advantage.
