Uni Albion A's third-quarter defensive effort allowed it to open up a margin on Southern A and eventually win 63-53 in the final game of round two of the Dunedin premier club competition at the Edgar Centre on Saturday. Both teams came into the match unbeaten and were looking to take bragging rights into the third and final round.
In the opening exchanges, both teams looked impressive, with Southern calling on the services of Southern Steel shooter Danika Wipiiti and Otago NPC representative Grier Campbell, who has been teaching in Wanaka, to give it extra shooting power.
Uni Albion anchored its attack around ex-Silver Fern Jodie Brown and its defence around Otago representative Louise Thayer.
The scoreline see-sawed throughout the first quarter, with neither team getting any more than a couple of goals in the lead. At the break it was level at 19-19.
Uni Albion's structured midcourt play was let down by some misdirected passes into the circle in the second quarter.
Southern was quick to pounce on the loose ball, delivering it to its shooters using long, cross-court passes. With the shooting duo of Wipiiti and Campbell on target, there was little opportunity for rebounds.
At halftime, Southern led 35-32.
It was in the all-important third quarter that Uni Albion raised its defensive performance, intercepting Southern's cross-court passes in the midcourt. Uni Albion's first-half centre, Jaimee Power, moved to goal defence and made an instant impact, picking off some timely intercepts.
Uni Albion's first-half wing defence, Bridget Hollander, moved to centre and her reliability and accurate feeding skills ensured her team-mates got close shots at goal. Southern failed to respond and Uni Albion won the quarter 18-8.
Southern regrouped at the three-quarter break and came back on court playing a shorter, smarter passing game. However, the damage had already been done and Uni Albion emerged a deserved winner.
In other matches, College A beat Phys Ed A 53- 43 and Southern B downed Phys Ed B 54-40.
