At Pulman Arena, Auckland: Stars 47 (Maia Wilson 31/40, Jamie Hume 13/22, Amorangi Malesala 3/4) Magic 39 (Ivana Rowland 11/17, Bailey Mes 23/24, Eseta Autagavaia 5/7). 1Q: 12-14; HT: 23-20; 3Q: 37-28
The Stars held the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic scoreless for more than nine minutes during the third quarter on their way to a 47-39 win in the ANZ Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
When Bailey Mes scored for the Magic four minutes into that period at Pulman Arena, the margin was a single goal.
By the time Ivana Rowland ended a drought that included five misses by her and her shooting partner, the Stars were up by nine and the contest was over.
Shane Wenzlick/Photosport
The Stars took a while to get going but eventually secured a crucial win over the Magic (File photo).
That the Magic had kept this one so close in the first two quarters was somewhat of a surprise, given their winless run since beating the Northern Mystics in the opening round of the season.
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Mes led the way as they opened up an early five-goal lead, but by the end of the first period, their advantage had been squeezed to two.
With a minute to go in the second quarter, the two teams were level, but a three-goal flurry heading into the halftime break was a sign of what was in store.
The Magic rallied to finish the third quarter strong after their scoreless run, but needed to start the fourth quarter in the same fashion, still trailing by nine.
They closed within seven at one point, but the margin grew to eight by the final whistle.
The Magic welcomed back defender Georgia Tong, but were still without shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who is in line to return on Sunday.
Best on court
Anna Harrison was playing her 150th national league match in a career that began with the Otago Rebels 20 years ago in 2002 and was active in the heart of the Stars defence, finishing with five interceptions.
The big moment
The Magic had done so well for the first 29 minutes of the match, but in the 60 seconds before the halftime break, they came undone, turning the ball over and allowing the Stars to open up a three-goal lead – their largest of the contest to that point. From there, the Aucklanders didn’t look back.
Match rating
7/10: This one finished with the Stars winning emphatically, but it was surprisingly close until the third quarter, where the Magic’s nine-minute scoreless run was quite the spectacle, albeit for the wrong reasons.
The big picture
There were promising signs for the Magic early on, but their search for a second win this season continues. They could have a good chance to get it on Sunday, when they face the Tactix, who will be backing up from a heavy loss to the Northern Mystics. The Stars are also in action again, trying to halt the charge of the defending champions and burnish their own finals credentials in the later of the day’s two matches. They moved up to third, ahead of the Steel, with Saturday’s win, but have played one game more.
