Defending champion Northern Mystics held their nerve to beat Southern Steel 61-52 in their ANZ Premiership match in Invercargill
The Steel, who lost 15 straight games in 2023, were within three goals of the league-winning Mystics in the third quarter but were unable to capitalise. The return of former captain Shannon Saunders and a faultless shooting performance from Grace Namana, were the home side's highlights.
A 92 percent shooting performance from the Mystics and the seamless use of their strong bench players allowed them to keep in front throughout and pull away late.
Less than two minutes into the game, Saunders took the court at wing attack for her first game since having her first child. Her vision and precision passing immediately lifted the confidence of the players around her, and the Steel had a much-improved start to the game than in their opening match.
The Mystics put pressure on the Steel at their centre pass, but when the ball got through to the Steel shooters, Namana and Georgia Heffernan were sure with their shots.
The Mystics started out aggressive on attack, but were sometimes too enthusiastic. Silver Fern Grace Nweke took much of the quarter to find her range, but after the first 15 minutes, the Mystics held the upper hand, 16-13.
Through some tough defence in the circle from Carys Stythe and Phoenix Karaka, the Mystics extended their lead to seven.
While the Steel midcourt of Saunders and captain Kate Heffernan, who picked up three sharp intercepts in the first half, kept the home side in the game, the shrewdness of Mystic feeders Peta Toeava and Tayla Earle, kept the Steel at arm's length.
Up 32-25 at halftime, the Mystics upped the ante immediately and pulled out to a double-figure lead for the first time, but the Steel gradually pegged it back. Defenders Abby Lawson and Taneisha Fifita niggled the Mystics into basic errors and kept the defending champions scoreless for a rare three minutes.
Even though Saunders was benched for the second half to manage her heavily strapped knee, with Ivari Christie returning to wing attack, the Steel attack didn't lose momentum. A great understanding between Namana and Georgia Heffernan whittled the difference down to three and saw the Steel eventually draw the third quarter.
But it was a run of five goals right at the death of that spell that put the Mystics comfortably back in control, 46-39.
Nweke ended the game with 91 percent accuracy.
Southern Steel: 52
Northern Mystics: 61
