The Otago Goldrush held off the Tauranga City Coasters to win 65-62 in its opening game of the second leg of the Women's Basketball Championships in Nelson yesterday.
Otago, the defending champion, led 34-32 at the half-time break and in an improved third quarter, the team stretched the margin to six points, with 10 minutes remaining.
But Tauranga rallied, winning the last quarter 14-11. Briarley Rogers had a big impact off the bench for the Coasters, leading all scorers with 19 points.
The Goldrush struggled from long range, landing just three of its 20 three point attempts.
Soraya Umaga-Jensen had the most luck from beyond the arc, scoring from two of her seven attempts.
Veteran point guard Janet Main went 0-4 but came up with some important baskets and four steals.
The pair scored 12 points each but American centre Natalie Visger was the stand-out performer for the Goldrush with 10 rebounds and 11 points.
Tauranga won the battle of the boards 47-37. Tayla Kendrick grabbed 15 rebounds and Courtney Wilson snatched 11.
Wilson also scored 12 points to complete a solid match.
While the match was closer than perhaps expected, the Goldrush has scored four wins from five games.
● In other matches, Tauranga was thumped 110-33 by Canterbury, the Waikato Wizards beat the Capital Flyers 52-50, Taranaki defeated Nelson 52-36, Auckland beat Te Tai Tokerau 59-25 and Canterbury beat Waikato 58-53 in the game of the round.
Otago played Waitakere Lady Rangers in the late game last night.
