Guard Alexa Duff hit seven three-pointers and led the Falcons with 29 points as they toppled the South Pac Magic 73-68 on opening night of the Dunedin women’s club basketball league on Tuesday.
Forward Elise Carline added 21 points, the two 18-year-olds providing the firepower to get their team over the line.
The once-promising duo have very much transitioned to fully fledged stars since debuting as 14-year-olds.
On the other side, Tia Pavihi was influential for the Magic. She knocked down five triples herself, and finished with a game-high 31 points.
It was Duff who gave Falcons the upper hand early, hitting three three-pointers among her 11 first-quarter points.
That gave them a 15-11 lead at quarter-time, which became 41-38 at halftime as Duff added a further three triples.
Pavihi came into the game in the second quarter, too. She matched Duff’s three three-pointers, notching 14 points for the quarter.
The Falcons gained breathing space in the third quarter, holding the Magic to nine points, while Carline and Duff kept the score ticking over to take them to a 57-47 lead.
While Pavihi finished with another big quarter, it was not enough to haul in the Falcons, as Carline kept them going down the stretch.
In the other game, Ajax beat two-time defending champions Varsity 68-43.
Zoe Richards and Elise Gilbert had 21 points each as Ajax pulled out to a 39-15 halftime lead, holding Varsity to just four points in the second quarter.
That became 54-27 at three-quarter time, before Varsity stemmed some of the bleeding late.
Abby Harris led a new-look Varsity lineup with 11 points. — APL
