That was the decisive instruction from Southern Steel coach Wendy Frew during the third quarter break, and it proved effective.
Leading 41-32 at the break, Southern Steel pushed forward to secure a 52-43 victory over the Central Pulse in Wellington this afternoon.
The match was far from flawless, marred by numerous offensive contacts, yet Steel celebrated their fifth consecutive win.
The foundation for their success was established in the third quarter, where they outscored Pulse 15-10, positioning them second on the ANZ Premiership ladder based on goal percentage.
Aliyah Dunn delivered an impeccable performance, scoring 34 from 34 attempts, while Georgia Heffernan contributed 18 points.
Carys Stythe achieved six gains, showcasing another strong performance in goalkeeping.
The win, however, was hard-fought.
Stythe effectively contained Ine-Mari Venter, complicating the task for the ex-Southern African international to score.
The Pulse attackers found it difficult to finesse their passes, allowing Steel to leap to a 9-2 lead.
This prompted a Pulse time-out after Steel’s five unanswered points.
The response was swift as Pulse regained strength, closing the quarter trailing 15-11.
Pulse’s defensive strategy slowed Steel’s court transition, but Steel remained composed, moving the ball with precision.
Holly Comyns intercepted over Dunn, bringing Pulse within a point.
Pulse implemented a defensive box, pushing Steel attackers wide, limiting options in the center.
The match turned physical as Pulse chased their first win since round one.
Heffernan’s drive into the circle was pivotal, cutting through Pulse’s defense, leading to a 26-22 halftime advantage for Steel.
Steel’s attacks occasionally faltered, missing optimal choices.
Stythe pressured Venter, who had to frequently adjust her position.
She disrupted Venter’s shots, caused held balls, and captured a rebound as it was going out of bounds.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio guided the Pulse’s attack, but Steel restricted short passing options.
This strategy helped Steel extend their lead to eight points.
Steel exploited space better, utilized court width, and celebrated minor victories to boost morale across the team.
They maintained a 41-32 lead at the third-quarter break.
Kimiora Poi and Renee Savai’inaea’s efforts outside the circle were crucial.
They effectively trapped Pulse’s midcourters and tracked them to the circle edge, slowing Pulse’s attack.
Despite a late Pulse resurgence, Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa intercepted, preserving Steel’s advantage.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Southern Steel 52
Aliyah Dunn 34 (34/34), Georgia Heffernan 18 (18/24)
Central Pulse 43
Ine-Mari Venter 15 (15/21), Ameliaranne Ekenasio 18 (17/18), Khiarna Williams 10 (10/10)
Quarter scores: Steel 15-11, 26-22, 41-32.
