By Sam Phillips

Sturt Sabres 76 | Southern Tigers 69

Sturt has continued its good form, accounting for a strong Southern side, 76-69. The win sees the Sabres move to just one game outside the top 5, claiming their third win in a row.

An accurate start to the game saw both teams pick up quick points, as the ball went from end to end with frenetic pace.

Ta’Rea Cunnigan was prominent for the Tigers with a couple of timely steals, however Sturt were the side taking their chances, hitting back to back three pointers to open an early lead. Sturt was doing the majority of their shooting beyond the arc in the first, but it would be important for them to break into the key as the game wore on.

Danni Angley completed a great solo layup but worryingly for Sturt landed hard on the court hurting her knee. She sat out the rest of match but appeared in good spirits.  

Sturt held an 8 point advantage, 24-16 at quarter time.

The Tigers came out strongly to start the second, nailing the first two shots to trim the lead to 4.

Sturt responded well with Anne Hatchard picking up consecutive baskets, scoring a valuable 13 first half points. Jade Johnson (16 points, 8 rebounds) was also prominent, especially from the line (she went there 4 times in the first half) collecting 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Mollie McKendrick (18 points, 6 rebounds) was typically dangerous, helping to keep her Tigers side in the contest with an accurate (78%) 14 points in the first half. Sturt still held a 7 point lead, 50-43 at the main break.

In what was their best quarter for the match, Southern started the third with a distinct focus on pressuring the ball carrier. This led to a number of turnovers with the Tigers able to take advantage of Tara Robinson’s (23 points, 6 rebounds) presence inside leveling scores late in the quarter.

Sturt took back the lead after an impressive three from Lauren Gibbons and a Hatchard steal, before Jemma Thacker hit a three on the buzzer to frustrate Sturt fans. The margin was just two at the final change.

The last started in tense fashion with neither team scoring for nearly 4 minutes until Hatchard (22 points, 10 rebounds) demonstrated again why she was Sturt’s best across the night, hitting a crucial three. Marcus Wong urged his side to keep up their good work with containment of Southern’s offence the key message going into the final few minutes. In the end Sturt was able to keep the Tigers at an arm’s length when it mattered most, having the poise to finish strongly, winning by 7. Sturt would be pleased with solid contributions from a number of players, as well as out rebounding Southern.

In what is now a wide open finals race, Sturt will hope that they are peaking at just the right time.

 

Round 17: Saturday, 16 July at 6:30pm

Southern Tigers v West Adelaide Bearcats @ Morphett Vale

Norwood Flames v Sturt Sabres @ Mars