Southern Hoiho guard Lillian Dart kept hitting the target to help seal a 99-94 win against an under-strength Mainland Pouākai in Dunedin last night.
The Australian sniper landed eight triples in a haul of 36 points.
It was the highest tally for a player in the league this season and the highest all-time score for a Hoiho player.
It was a powerhouse performance off the bench, although she clocked a lot of minutes courtesy of some foul trouble for the home team.
Claire Jacobs (17), Rebecca Pizzey (17) and Taylah Simmons (16) all kept the scoreboard rolling, while Taylor Mikesell and Morgan Yaeger added 25 and 24 points respectively for the Pouākai.
The Hoiho took control in the third quarter. They had trailed at the first two breaks.
But Dart drilled back-to-back threes midway through the period and it proved a turning point.
Earlier, Hoiho centre Jesse Edwards picked up two quick fouls and took a seat after about a minute.
Not ideal.
Guard Paige Bradley, who racked up 14 assists, rolled in a lay-up to close in on 500 points for the Hoiho — she needs three more.
Jacobs dropped in a three-pointer in what was otherwise a pretty sloppy start by the home team.
Yaeger breezed by her moments later on the way to the lid.
Simmons had a lively opening quarter, netting 11 points.
But the Pouākai led 28-25 at the break.
The visitors were dominating the boards in Edwards’ absence.
The Hoiho can always rely on Dart to stick a triple, and she landed a couple nice and early in the second quarter.
Bradley found Pizzey down court with ease and she popped in a pair of lay-ups.
Mikesell sank a three-pointer to keep the visitors in front by one at the end of the half.
Pizzey connected from the top of the key for three to open the Hoiho’s account in the third.
But Yaeger finished another of her determined drives to the hoop, and Mikesell drained a three-pointer.
Edwards was back in the game and took a charge from the big rig Charlotte Whittaker. She sucked in some deep breaths and carried on.
Dart drilled back-to-back threes as the lead changed hands for the last time.
She owned the final quarter, spearing a few more three-pointers and driving to the hoop for buckets as well.
The Pouākai were down on firepower. Marena Whittle, Abi Fogg, Esra McGoldrick and Kavanah Lene were all unavailable.
That proved costly in the second half.
In the Rapid League game, the Pouākai clinched a 31-29 victory in the dying moments. Ava Jones netted the driving lay-up to sink the Hoiho.
