Northern Mystics have fired a warning to the rest of the competition to start the new ANZ Premiership season, storming to a 64-38 victory over Southern Steel in Auckland.
A 46-goal showing from Grace Nweke, combined with a suffocating defensive effort from Sulu Fitzpatrick, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Cary Stythe, gave new coach Tia Winikerei the perfect start to life as Mystics coach.
In fact, the Steel's 38 goals is a competition record for the lowest total scored by a side, not helped by losing shooter George Fisher to a knee injury before the start of the season.
Aided by Monica Falkner (12 from 17 attempts) and Filda Vui (6 from 7), Nweke's accuracy inside the shooting circle saw the Mystics lead 22-10 after the first quarter, and 36-18 at halftime.
The score could have been even more for the Mystics, only to see Nweke given a rest at the end of the third quarter before returning to finish the match at goal attack.
For the Steel, Jess Allan (15 from 19), Georgia Heffernan (14 from 19) and Eseta Autagavaia (9 from 13) all scored, but were unable to even pass Nweke's individual tally.
Things won't get any easier for the Southerners either, as the Steel face a daunting trip to face defending champions Central Pulse in Wellington next weekend.
Meanwhile, the Mystics head south to face Mainland Tactix in Christchurch, as they bid to continue their explosive start to 2023.
Northern Mystics 64 (Nweke 48, Falkner 12, Vui 6)
Southern Steel 38 (Allan 15, Heffernan 14, Autagavaia 9)
