In its MLT Netball Eastern Southland Premier League section B game on Saturday the college beat Knapdale A 27-21.
In the first round of the competition the team were winless.
Yeo said the players had the ability but she and assistant coach Shelley Lithgow had been emphasising attitude and team work.
"We’ve spent the majority of our season building confidence, building trust and upping that skill of individual players so that the other players around them have confidence in them to do the job."
Earlier in the week the team also won a game against Southland Girls’ in the Southland-wide senior A netball league.
"They’re at that point now, especially with these two wins this week, where they’ve actually realised that they can do it.
"Now they’ve got themselves in that headspace with confidence, its really showing on court."
She was very pleased with the win, Yeo said.
"I’m absolutely rapt with them.
"Just to see the smiles on their faces now that they are finally getting the win is just so rewarding."
The players had not stopped working hard even though they were losing each week.
"Now they’re starting to see that reward."
Māruawai made a good start to the game and were ahead 7-5 at the end of the first quarter.
A strong second quarter saw the team outscore Knapdale 7-3 to be ahead 14-8 at halftime.
In the third quarter Māruawai shot 9-6 before losing the fourth quarter 7-5.
Yeo said that centre Layla Connorton, 16, was "somebody who really impressed me".
"Her circle edge work and her feeding the circle, there was massive growth shown."
Layla had mostly played wing defence this season, but another player needed experience in this position to prepare for the secondary schools tournament later in the year.
The defensive end players were starting to gel well, Yeo said.
"Three of them in particular ... are really steering the ship and turning over all that extra ball that we need for those extra opportunities to goal."
Knapdale coach Margie Halford said her team were slow to start the game.
"We didn’t settle into our game until the middle of the second quarter."
By halftime, Knapdale were six goals behind.
"We played catch up netball from then.
"We did close the gap in the last quarter but it was just a little bit late."
Section B of the premier league was very even and there were some close games, Halford said.
"We’re all there to play good fair netball."
