With a stirring last quarter revival, the Northern Mystics came from behind for an inspired one-goal win over the Central Pulse in a high quality game.
Rookie Mystics defender Carys Stythe in full flight Photo: Photosport
Mystics coach Helene Wilson made a number of substitutions to boost her side, while keeping key shooter Grace Nweke on court for the entire match in Auckland.
With the Pulse holding a five-goal lead with seven minutes to go, the Wellington side looked in a game-winning position.
But a six-goal scoring burst by the Mystics was enough to put the pressure on the visiting side, with the Mystics then holding on for a 62-61 win.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie, who returned to the team from Covid isolation, said her players needed to adapt to changes.
"They ran some new legs and fresh legs in," Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said after her side's second close loss to the Mystics this season.
"That worked well for them. They had some numbers on the bench."
"But you've got to be able to absorb that, and our team is good enough to do that, so we're disappointed."
Meanwhile the Mystics have unleashed a future defensive star. Carys Stythe has continued to impress at the national league level playing at goal defence in her first season. Stythe's athleticism, height and long reach is a big hassle for the shooters she comes up against.
Aliyah Dunn and Tiana Metuarau's partnership in the Pulse shooting circle is going from strength to strength. While at the other end of the court, Nweke was unsurpassed with 55 goals from 60 attempts.
With the two sides meeting for the second time in eight days, the Pulse missed out on a bonus point first time around when losing by six but pocketed the extras in the re-match.
Mystics:
Grace Nweke 55/60 (92%)
Filda Vui 4/6 (67%)
Monica Falkner 3/8 (38%)
Pulse:
Aliyah Dunn 38/41 (93%)
Tiana Metuarau 23/30 (77%)
MVP: Tayla Earle (Mystics)
Steel win big against Stars
England import George Fisher shot the Southern Steel to an emphatic 71-62 win over the Northern Stars in Invercargill
Fisher produced a dominant outing under the Steel hoop, going on to deliver a stellar 51 from 52 return at the Steel's fortress, Stadium Southland.
Fisher missed only one goal in Invercargill Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
Back with the Stars, Kayla Johnson made her return to the national league for the first time since 2019 when taking on the wing defence role. With influential defender Anna Harrison and midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan absent for this match, the Stars were under-strength.
Steel shooter Fisher's combination with Silver Ferns midcourter Shannon Saunders continued to flourish providing the Steel with slick and clinical movement on attack as a steady stream of quality ball headed into the circle.
The Stars had their moments, surging back through pacey through-court play and the accuracy of Maia Wilson and the long-range exploits of Jamie Hume. But the visitors were unable to maintain any consistent passages of play.
Coaxed out of retirement, Emma Iversen provided fresh legs when coming on at centre for the Stars in the second half.
Stars defender Elle Temu slowly worked her way into the game to add some timely hustle while Crampton provided the spark on attack but the Steel had an answer for anything thrown at them.
With Steel defenders Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Kate Burley, in particular, having a blinder against her former team, the Steel pushed out to a handy 51-42 lead at the last break.
Steel:
George Fisher 51/52 (98%)
Saviour Tui 11/14 (79%)
Georgia Heffernan 9/10 (90%)
Stars:
Maia Wilson 45/49 (92%)
Jamie Hume 17/22 (77%)
Amorangi Malesala 0/1 (0%)
MVP: Shannon Saunders (Steel)
RNZ