After a week in which claims of in-fighting emerged, the Northern Mystics have picked up their first win of the season, causing an extra-time boilover against the Central Pulse.
Having opened the season with four straight losses the meek Mystics were under huge pressure to start firing. Trailing by sixgoals at halftime, it looked as though the match would go much the way the first four have for the home side. But a brilliant third-quarter comeback, led by a much more hungry defensive effort put the Mystics in strong position to steal the win 68-67.
Captain Maria Tutaia fittingly slotted the goal which sent the match to overtime and later the winning shot to deliver the Pulse's top four credentials a massive blow.
It was a controversial umpiring decision that gave the home side the opportunity to level the score at the end of regular time.
With 10 seconds to score off their own centre pass, Tutaia biffed a Hail Mary ball into Cathrine Latu, intercepted by Pulse captain Katrina Grant. But Grant was called for contact, giving the Mystics a penalty shot after regulation time had sounded, which Tutaia calmly slotted. Ruth Aitken handing rookie Erikana Pederson her debut at wing defence, while Jessica Bourke was given the goal-keep bib.
Tutaia and Latu combined for some clever interplay early on to keep the Pulse defenders guessing. But down the other court it was the same old story, with the Mystics unable to disrupt the rhythm of the Pulse attack.
Incredibly, the Pulse did not commit a turnover in the first quarter, which proved the difference as the visitors took a 19-15 lead at the first break, before stretching their advantage out to six at halftime.
A change to the Mystics defence end in the third quarter worked to provide some defensive bite at long last, closing down space.
Jess Moulds came on at goal keep to pick up several vital intercepts, while Kayla Cullen, who started at centre looked more comfortable in the wing defence bib.
