In a nail-biting finish at Stadium Southland, Georgia Heffernan of the Southern Steel executed a precise shot from the two-point zone just as the halftime buzzer sounded. After a brief deliberation, the umpires awarded the double points, igniting the crowd as the Steel secured a 10-point lead over the Northern Stars at halftime.
The Steel had a challenging start, trailing by four points at the end of the first quarter and suffering seven turnovers. However, they rebounded with a strong performance to claim a 69-60 victory over the Stars.
Dominating the second quarter with a 21-7 scoreline, the Steel’s defensive prowess was particularly noteworthy. Restricting the Stars to just seven points, especially when many had considered the Auckland team as title contenders following their previous win, highlighted the Steel’s defensive capabilities.
Despite their success, the Steel faced frustration as they allowed the Stars back into the game. Aliyah Dunn delivered an outstanding performance with 54 successful attempts out of 56, while Carys Stythe contributed significantly with seven gains and five intercepts.
Throughout the game, the Steel effectively maneuvered the ball around the circle edge, connecting with Serina Daunakamakama to set up Dunn. Meanwhile, Martina Salmon executed a deceptive move to deliver a precise pass to Amelia Walmsley.
Renee Savai’inaea effectively neutralized Claire O’Brien’s dominance on the centre pass, creating a barrier against the Stars’ wing attack. However, the Steel’s progress was occasionally disrupted by turnovers from their few gains.
Salmon initially gave the Stars a five-point advantage with a two-point shot. Though the Steel improved their offensive movement, the Stars maintained a 19-15 lead by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Stythe’s interception led to a swift equalizer within two minutes. Her pressure on Walmsley forced a held ball, allowing the Steel to take a three-point lead.
The Steel’s attack was seamless, with players anticipating each other’s moves and executing plays at the last moment. On the defensive end, Stythe and Jess Milne improved their coordination, covering the Stars’ shooters, while Kimiora Poi and Savai’inaea supported them.
The Steel opened up a seven-point lead, increasing pressure on the Stars. As the Stars began to falter, Heffernan sank a buzzer-beating two-pointer, extending the lead to 36-26.
Despite a comeback attempt by the Stars, reducing the gap to six points and prompting a Steel timeout, the Steel responded with renewed vigor. Stythe’s interception and Salmon’s two-pointer, along with Walmsley’s consecutive singles, narrowed the score to 45-41.
The momentum shifted again when Mila Reuelu-Buchan received a two-minute suspension for reckless play. The Steel capitalized on this, with Samon Nathan moving to center, allowing them to stabilize and lead 52-44 by the next break.
In the final quarter, both teams exchanged goals until the Stars seized an opportunity from a Steel error to close the gap to five points. Salmon’s two-pointer brought them within four, but Milne’s critical rebound and pass maintained the Steel’s advantage.
Heffernan capped off the game with another two-pointer, sealing the Steel’s victory.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Southern Steel 69
Aliyah Dunn 54 (54/56) Georgia Heffernan 15 (13/14)
Northern Stars 60
Amelia Walmsley 49 (48/53), Martina Salmon 11 (8/11)
Quarter scores: Stars 19-15, 26-36, 44-52
