Basketball: Three from three for Goldrush

The Otago Goldrush is humming after its first three games in the opening qualifying tournament of the Women's Basketball Championship.

Otago had won three from three before its late game against Nelson in Palmerston North last night.

The Goldrush started slowly in its first game before pulling away to a solid 79-67 win over the Southland Pearls.

American Casey Lockwood top-scored with 26 points and former Silver Ferns netballer Daneka Wipiiti added 15.

Goldrush coach Brent Matehaere said his side made its move in the third quarter, with Lockwood and Wipiiti dominating on the inside and capitalising on some nice passes from Jodi Brown.

It was one-way traffic in the second game, with Otago thumping the Palmerston North Storm 72-57.

The lead was 11 points after the first quarter and 23 at halftime, allowing Matehaere to give all of his players a run in the second half.

Lockwood (17), Brown (13) and Elise Cassidy (10) led a balanced Goldrush scoring effort.

In the third game, Otago came from nine points down to beat Waikato 70-64, holding the opposition to two points in the final eight minutes of the third quarter.

Lockwood continued her form with 17 points, supported by Wipiiti (12) and Danielle Calnan (11).