The Tall Ferns forward posted 27 points in a dominant display at the Edgar Centre as Ajax beat the South Pac Magic 82-64, as women’s club basketball returned from its break on Tuesday.
And it really was all of Richards’ quality that showed.
There was the go-to presence in the post, where her footwork and reliable finish killed the Magic.
There was the ability to handle the ball in the open and get to the hoop with all the moves.
And then there was the ability to hit from deep, which she did twice, for good measure.
That is a lot for a club defence to handle, and a pointer to how tough this team can be with all their players available.
But the Magic did stick with Ajax through most of the first quarter, and even led 9-8 when Tia Pavihi (13 points) finished at the hoop after a strong drive.
However, at that point Ajax lifted.
Charli Sinclair (nine points) was left open on the wing, and made the Magic pay as she nailed a triple.
She added another two, finished after Elise Gilbert (12 points) stole an outlet pass and found Sinclair under the hoop.
The Magic called timeout, but Ajax continued their rampage.
Gilbert found her way to the hoop three times, while Natalie Ivamy (12 points) and Richards also got in on the run.
By the time Pavihi scored the Magic’s next points, the score had ballooned to 26-9, the game perhaps not entirely done, but it was a long way back from there.
While the Magic once more began finding points through Sereana Rokotakala (15 points) and Shanti Kara (14 points), Ajax continued to extend
their lead.
A dominant Richards took over the Ajax offence for the rest of the quarter, and by halftime the score showed 43-22.
The Magic never gave in, and got it back to 57-46 late in the third quarter, when Rokotakala drew the foul, and completed a three-point playoff a reverse layup.
But Richards responded with a three-pointer, and by midway through the fourth quarter the margin was at 20 points again.
In the late game Abby Harris had 22 points as Varsity beat the Andy Bay Falcons 72-54.
The students got a jump late in the first quarter to lead 22-11, and held a comfortable, if not insurmountable, advantage the rest of the way.
