Magic A (3-0) continued its perfect start to the women's winter league on Tuesday night, thrashing Varsity B (0-3) 97-39.
Varsity started the game well, creating opportunities and keeping the defending champion in check.
Beanie Joyes was a standout on defence for Varsity, particularly in the first quarter, as she relentlessly chased rebounds and powered through the court.
Despite the strong start, Varsity soon succumbed to pressure from a ruthless Magic side, which held an 11-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Magic ramped up the intensity, and the dominant pairing of Kelly Nafatali (28 points) and top scorer Dayna Turnbull (30) mopped the floor with Varsity's defenders.
Nafatali had a superb game, adding four rebounds and two steals, often leaving the Varsity defenders trailing behind her and creating great space.
The Varsity defence was, at times, nothing short of woeful, leaving Magic players able to move around the court unchecked.
Magic went into the third quarter with a well-deserved 46-25 lead, and the quarter brought much of the same for the beleaguered Varsity side.
Magic's Megan Day was consistently strong on defence for her side, and made positive breaks on attack, scoring 12 points.
Frustration led to on-court tension, and tempers flared on more than once, as both sides became increasingly physical.
Heading into the final quarter down 69-31, Varsity did not give up, showing brief periods of strong attack. Katie Brock (eight points) and Clara Ibanez (six) had strong games and prevented the score from blowing out more than it did.
In the evening's other game, Varsity A (2-1) held off a spirited Falcons A (1-2) 63-46. Due to Goldrush commitments, Ajax 1 (2-1) defaulted to Ajax 2 (1-2).
-by Daisy Hudson
