"We put a lot of pressure on defence, there is a lot more we can get out there, but again the commitment to the game plan was great and the biggest thing was the connection that just stayed there through the whole game."
"From where we've been to where we've come, we've taken a big step forward."
Although commonly described as "unorthodox," Malawi weren't able to keep up to the fast pace of the Ferns.
However, Southby said she believed Malawi still showcased their strengths in moments of the game, and said it was a good warm-up for when the Ferns face the Jamaica Sunshine Girls.
"I think Malawi were a little travel fatigued and they haven't been in the country long, so I certainly expect that by the time we face them again in the Commonwealth Games they'll be a lot sharper," said Southby.
"We know that Jamaica have two very tall shooters … there's always going to be a lot of high ball going into the back space."
"We can expect that it's going to be very physical and they are going to go for absolutely anything, again they can be a bit more unorthodox … so we're looking forward to the opportunity and the challenge."
Captain Katrina Grant said she too was pleased with the Ferns' ability to stick to their game plan for the full 60 minutes of the game, and said it was a true reflection of the hard work they had been doing behind the scenes.
"It's still a work in progress for us, but I feel like we've come a long way, we've worked really really hard in the last six weeks or so, ever since we got back from South Africa, and we've really known what we needed to work on," Grant said.
"Everyone's on the same page and everyone's got the same common goal and we're working towards that, every game we're going to get better."
The Silver Ferns will face the Jamaica Sunshine Girls tonight at 8:10 for their second match of the Taini Jamison Trophy.
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