Northern Mystics finally delivered the game they had been promising all season with a stylish 52-49 win over Southern Steel in Invercargill last night.
With just three wins from seven starts, the seventh-placed Mystics desperately needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and had to battle hard againstthe sixth-placed Steel after both teams began hesitantly, as close marking forced errors. But the Mystics settled into their game quicker, not only forcing the Steel into errors, but converting the resulting possession into points on the board. The key to the Mystics' win came with the speed of their game, often half a pace ahead of the Steel, and in the confidence with which they let the ball go into the circle. Two strong opening quarters laid the base for the win, with the Auckland-based Mystics leading 30-23 at halftime. Melbourne Vixens' season continued its free-fall at Hisense Arena with a shock 56-53 loss to lowly West Coast Fever to put their title defence in peril. The defeat was the Vixens third straight. NZPA
