Hannah Beede poured in 30 points and came up with key baskets down the stretch to keep Ajax’s winning streak alive.
Ajax beat the Andy Bay Falcons Tahi 59-53, as women’s club basketball got back under way on Tuesday after its break for university holidays.
Beede hit four triples and was dominant throughout, as a depleted Ajax team kept its nose in front against the pesky Falcons who were also missing several key players.
Ajax jumped out to a 9-0 lead, before back-to-back three-pointers from Jordyn Chin (15 points) got the Falcons going.
Milly Ford (nine points) made Ajax’s lead 18-10 early in the second quarter, before eight consecutive points from Brittany Richards (20 points) pulled the Falcons back to 18-18.
They took the lead moments after.
But Ajax responded with an 11-0 run — Beede scoring nine of those — regaining a lead it never fully gave up.
The Falcons hung around as Richards, Chin and Elise Carline (15 points) all kept their score ticking over.
They got back to 40-40 early in the fourth quarter, as Carline hit a three-pointer from the wing.
But Beede responded with three consecutive baskets of her own.
Carline hit another three-pointer late in the quarter to reduce the deficit back to two, but again Beede responded with a corner three-pointer.
It was the closest the Falcons got, as Ajax closed out the game to continue its winning streak.
In other games, Varsity claimed a 91-42 win over the Falcons Rua.
Tyler Mitchell grabbed 3 points, while Sophie Adams added 18.
Madi Loudon top-scored for the Falcons with 11.
The South Pac Magic downed Varsity Gold 108-51, led by big-scoring nights from Sereana Rokotakala and Georgia Te Au, who had 30 and 24 points respectively.
Aimee Lynch led Varsity Gold with 12.
