A 15-2 run on either side of the first break set the platform, as they shot out to a lead they would never relinquish.
They beat the South Pac Magic 58-49 in Dunedin women’s club basketball on Tuesday night, ending the Magic’s four-game winning streak in the process.
Danielle Frost led Ajax with 17 points, while there were contributions between five and eight across the board.
Maggie Manson had 14 points for the Magic, and Kiana Brown and Shanti Kara added 12 each, although the team battled early without usual go-to scorer Tia Pavihi.
And it was early when the damage was done. After a messy end-to-end start from both teams, Ajax clicked first.
They led 10-8 when Nanaia Haua (five points) finished a three-point play to ignite Ajax’s run.
Samara Gallaher (eight points) followed with a three-pointer off an inbounds play, giving Ajax a 16-8 lead at quarter-time.
Frost finished inside after a nice pass from Natalie Ivamy to open the second quarter, before stepping out to hit a triple, extending the lead to 21-8.
At that point it was already beginning to look ominous.
Brown pulled two back for the Magic, before another mini-run from Ajax effectively shut the Magic out.
When Janet Main (seven points) hit a corner three-pointer, it became 28-10.
At that point the Magic rallied and began to fight back.
Its offence clicked and it started getting stops, as Brown and Dayna Turnbull proved influential in pulling back to 29-23.
But a layup to Hannah Beede (six points) and a three-pointer to Charli Sinclair (seven points) restored a double-digit halftime lead, at 34-23.
And that was largely where it stayed.
Ajax held a 47-36 lead at three-quarter time.
Kara and Manson made layups to bring the margin to six at 51-45 down the stretch.
But Ajax responded, Frost and Sinclair hitting jump shots to hold them off and keep the Magic at arm’s length through to the end.
In the other game, Varsity beat the Andy Bay Falcons 74-58.
Legacy Harrison and Abby Harris had 20 points each, while Sophie Adams added 18.
Elise Carline had 24 points for the Falcons.
