KEY POINTS:
After the Diamonds produced a lacklustre, first-half performance, a super-charged second half gave them a 45-42 upset win over their North Shore rivals, the Force.
Diamonds coach Sue Hawkins was elated with her team's dramatic turnaround: "That third quarter was awesome. They really stepped up."
Acknowledging her side's uninspiring first half showing, Hawkins attributed her team's resurgence to collective will. "This team's got a ticker. It's got heart."
After a hard-fought, first-round win against the Sting in Invercargill, the Force were expected to romp home against the Diamonds, fresh from a first-round away loss against the Flames last week.
Anchored by Vilimaina Davu in the defensive circle, and bolstered by the assertive play of Australian import Megan Dehn and goal shoot Catherine Latu, the Force lived up to their favourites tag and led the Diamonds by nine goals at the end of the first quarter and by eight goals at halftime.
However, the Diamonds proved the dominant force in the third quarter and showed they weren't content to let this one slip.
The Force's form took a nose dive as they surrendered to the tenacious Diamonds outfit, all but disintegrating as the final whistle approached.
Maria Tutaia turned on an admirable performance against Davu, putting up several shots and helping to create the platform for the upset.
An impressive performance from Force captain and Silver Fern centre Temepara George aside, Force coach Yvonne Willering felt her team lost their composure in the second half.
"I am bitterly disappointed. We didn't stick to our game plan, which meant we were running and chasing them around and that wasn't what we should've been doing," said Willering.
Although upset with the loss, Willering maintained it's still early days in the National Bank Cup and wasn't giving up on her side.
"It's only game two. If I thought that was the best I could get from my side, I would be worried, but I know it's not."
She believed her team's second half performance could be squarely attributed to discipline, something they will need to address if they want to prevent a repeat of last night's loss.
Meanwhile the Magic beat the Shakers 61-40.
