The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic pulled within a point of the top of the New Zealand conference after earning a 63-57 victory over the Southern Steel today.
With their season now at the halfway point, the Magic have earned some separation in second spot of the conference, trailing only the Mystics courtesy of their six-point win in Invercargill.
They sit three points clear of the Steel and Central Pulse -- though both have a game in hand -- and safely inside the three playoff spots available to each conference in an expanded finals format.
For that, the Magic have a strong opening quarter to thank, creating a seven-point lead they never surrendered. While the Steel matched the visitors goal-for-goal in the opening exchanges, the Magic closed out the quarter with a 10-3 run to seize control.
The Steel were able to edge back into the match during the second quarter but, on the back of increased physicality on defence, the Magic increased their lead to a game-high 11 goals in the third. That allowed them to cruise home in the fourth quarter as the home side never managed to pull within fewer than four goals.
Jo Harten matched Jhaniele Fowler-Reid for every goal, with the towering Jamaican missing 10 attempts under constant pressure from Magic captain Leana de Bruin, while Ellen Halpenny was much more effective than Te Paea Selby-Rickit in the battle of the goal attacks.
Closing out the win enabled the Magic to vanquish the bad memories of last weekend's draw with the Mystics, when a a nine-goal lead disappeared in the final quarter.
And with Casey Kopua -- a vocal presence from the bench -- potentially returning from a long-term knee injury as early as next month, Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald will be content with her side's standing as they enter the second half of the season.
Magic 63 (Harten (42/47, Halpenny (21/26), Steel 57 (Fowler-Reid 42/51, Selby-Rickit 15/20).
