By Mark Halliday

Norwood Flames 58 | Southern Tigers 71

The Southern Tigers beat the Norwood Flames on Saturday night, handing them their first loss in over 18 months and ending a 34 game winning streak.

The last time the Norwood Flames women lost a game was the preliminary final of the 2014 season. Since that 9 point defeat, the Flames put in a perfect season last year to be crowned champions and remained undefeated throughout the first half of this year.

The Flames, who were without Jess Good from the start and ended without Jess Foley, were run over by a hungry Tigers team that struck in the third quarter and didn't let up until they had secured a 13 point victory.

Southern were able to disrupt the normally slick offence of the Flames to stay close in the first half and didn't let the home side run away as they have done so many times before.

Norwood established some control of the game out of half time and found themselves up by 10 when Foley hit a three to make it 41-31 with 6:51 to play. But less than a minute later, Foley was helped off the court after suffering a right foot injury.

The Tigers made their run as they found an extra gear and punished the Flames for any mistakes. Ta'Rea Cunnigan (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) connected on back to back shots and Tara Robinson (15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks) nailed two consecutive triples as Southern went on a 9-0 to close the gap. It was Cunnigan again who pulled up from mid-range to give the Tigers a brief hold on the lead as the Flames struggled to keep up.

The Flames looked off-kilter as they bricked shot after shot, their only points coming off Taylor Ortlepp (11 points, 4 rebounds) free throws.

The fourth is when the Tigers delivered the killing blow. Mollie McKendrick (17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks) opened the quarter with six straight points. From that point, the visitors prevented Norwood from scoring for three and a half minutes until Ortlepp converted a three point play.

Cunnigan's three with two minutes left had the lead at 10 for the Tigers with Norwood unable to answer until Cara Annetts' (11 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals) three with 1:21 left to play. Denelle Fawcett (13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) successfully scored on a cut to the basket for an 11 point advantage and the game firmly in hand.

Fouling to stop the clock didn't help Norwood as the Tigers were perfect from the line and secured an impressive victory.

Round 12: Saturday, 4 June at 6.30pm

Southern Tigers v North Adelaide Rockets @ Morphett Vale

Norwood Flames v South Adelaide Panthers @ Marion