Jennifer O'Connell of the Steel. Photo / Photosport
The Southern Steel have moved off the bottom of the ANZ Premiership table thanks to a 49-47 win over the Northern Stars.
Following a 46-42 loss to the Northern Mystics the previous day, the Steel bounced back, flying out of the blocks with a 7-1 start which left the Stars
playing catch-up.
The Stars slowly pulled back the deficit, regularly getting within one goal only to be kept at bay by the Steel, before the scores were levelled going into the final quarter, at 36.
However, as close as they got, they could never quite overhaul the Steel's lead, with a 9-4 run giving the Steel a handy buffer to do what they had done all game – hold off the Stars' surge.
The Stars had three more attempts at goal, but the accuracy of the Steel shooters at 91 per cent sealed the win for them. Import shooter Kalifa McCollin was doing a lot of work to draw the defenders out, and forced defensive changes for the Stars in a fine display.
