Grace Nweke's accuracy helped lift the Mystics to victory. Photo / Getty
The Northern Mystics held their nerve tonight to win the battle of Auckland and pull within a point of the Northern Stars at the top of the ANZ Premiership.
The Stars came into the clash with six wins from seven this season but fell behind in the first half and
were unable to complete a late comeback as their city rivals hung on to a 63-60 victory at Trusts Arena.
Grace Nweke's superior accuracy proved the difference for the home side, with the goal shoot scoring 60 goals from 64 attempts and making several pressure shots in the closing stages.
Ill-discipline hurt the Stars in the first half and saw an understrength Mystics side take a seven-goal lead into halftime. But the visitors edged their way back into the contest in the closing stages of the third quarter, scoring five of the last six goals to pull within four.
The Stars managed to halve that deficit as the game entered its final stages but the Mystics looked after possession well under intense defensive pressure, with the connection between Nweke and wing attack Elisapeta Toeava remaining a reliable route of attack throughout the contest.
