Jo Harten.
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic pulled within a point of the top of the New Zealand conference after earning an important victory over the Southern Steel yesterday.
With their season now at the halfway point, the Magic have earned some separation in second spot of the conference, trailing only the
Mystics courtesy of their six-point win in Invercargill.
They sit three points clear of the Steel and Central Pulse - though both have a game in hand - and safely inside the three playoff spots available to each conference in an expanded finals format.
For that, the Magic have a strong opening quarter to thank, creating a seven-point lead they never surrendered. While the Steel matched the visitors, the Magic closed out the quarter with a 10-3 run to seize control.
The Steel were able to edge back into the match during the second quarter but, on the back of increased physicality on defence, the Magic increased their lead to a game-high 11 goals in the third.
