Otago will play Wellington in the semifinals of the national championships after a superb third quarter propelled it to a 58-45 win against Bay of Plenty in Porirua yesterday.
Trailing 28-25 at halftime, Otago produced an outstanding defensive effort to help seize the initiative and capitalised through some fluent attack.
New Zealand under-21 shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit landed 14 of her 17 attempts and former Silver Fern shooter Jodi Brown scored five of her six attempts to help Otago outscore Bay of Plenty 19-4 in the crucial period.
A key change in the defensive circle also paid dividends, with former shooter Greir Campbell replacing Sam Stewart at goal defence. Campbell made an immediate impact, snatching an intercept and swatting the ball away several times.
With the pressure mounting, Bay of Plenty was forced into a series of mistakes with Otago wing attack Gina Crampton leading some fierce whole-court defence.
"We had a quiet start but the girls really stepped up in that third period," Otago coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz said.
"I said to them 'If you want this top four spot it is there for the taking' and they did.
"Our defence was amazing throughout court. It was a whole team effort. The amount of ball Jodi Brown and Gina Crampton forced was incredible.
"And we got on a roll and scored 13 goals - that was the game, really."
Tasi-Cordtz had the luxury of resting Brown for part of the final quarter and Kate Shearer came on and drilled all five of her attempts.
"It is really good to know Kate can do that if we need her, moving into the semis and final, hopefully."
In other matches, Auckland-Waitakere had its first win when it upstaged Southland 54-44.
That surprise result paved the way for Otago to qualify in third place and get the easier semifinal opponent.
Bay of Plenty and Southland were tied on points but Bay of Plenty advanced to the semifinal stage courtesy of its win against Southland in round-robin play.
Bay of Plenty will play Canterbury which beat Wellington 48-44 in the other division 1 game.
