After back-to-back extra-time games, the Southern Steel got the job done in regular time beating the Northern Stars 71-59 in Auckland in yesterday.
It felt like a frantic finish, despite the Steel holding a double-digit lead — posting the highest score in the ANZ Premiership this season — and now sit second on the table.
The Steel trialled three centres as they looked for a replacement for captain Kimiora Poi, who has been ruled out for the season.
Kate Burley snaffled a poor cross-court ball from the Steel, but Carys Stythe rejected the Stars’ feed.
Claire O’Brien spotted Amelia Walmsley home alone and Martina Salmon split the defender on her next feed to the shooter.
The Steel looked flustered, giving away easy ball for the Stars to take a five-point lead.
The Stars defence made it hard for the Steel, but the Steel did not make it easy on themselves.
They needed to give the ball on the first second and stop putting one another under unnecessary pressure.
Khanye’-Lii Munro-Nonoa rejected the Stars’ feed and Renee Savai’inaea picked up the crumbs.
The Stars led 16-13 at the break.
The Steel locked the score 20-20 midway through the second quarter.
Serina Daunakamakama found more depth in the pocket, which opened up her Steel attack end.
The Stars long feeds into Walmsley were pin-point, finding the Silver Ferns shooter on the baseline.
Dunn used her body to keep draw the whistle on Kate Burley, and rolled through the top.
Jessie Laga’aia was injected at centre for the Steel and had immediate impact as the momentum swung towards the Steel after a sluggish start.
Georgia Heffernan nailed a long two-pointer — the Steel won the quarter 21-13 — and led 33-29 at halftime.
The Steel’s defensive pressure pushed the Stars midcourters off the circle edge.
Munro-Nonoa’s pressure over Crystal Maro’s shot put doubt in the young shooters head, as the Steel defender picked off her feed.
Heffernan and Dunn’s connection started to spark, the Steel shooters dishing the ball off to each other to creep closer to post.
Both teams were a revolving door of changes, the Stars looking for impact while the Steel looking at options as they head towards the playoffs.
Skylah Tainui-Takerei, who plays for Central Manawa in the National Netball League, came on at centre for the Steel and Dunn nailed a late two-pointer for the Steel to lead 52-46.
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty produced a brutal final quarter 18-4 to beat the Central Pulse 50-39.
The Northern Mystics won 53-51 in extra-time against the Mainland Tactix to stay top of the table.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Southern Steel 71
Aliyah Dunn 56 (54/56), Georgia Heffernan 15 (14/17), Josie Bingham 0 (0/1)
Northern Stars 59
Amelia Walmsley 46 (46/50), Martina
Salmon 11 (10/15), Crystal Maro 2 (2/4)
Quarter scores: Stars 16-13, 29-33, 46-52.
