They hustled for everything and made life as difficult as they could for the Northern Kāhu at the Edgar Centre this afternoon.
But the defending champions were clinical in their 95-69 win against the Hoiho.
Ilmar’I Thomas was influential with her double of 27 points and 11 rebounds.
Captain Penina Davidson banked a double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Tahlia Tupaea had 16 points.
Ahlise Hurst worked hard for the Hoiho finishing with 22 points.
Samantha Bowman banked another double for her season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Kāhu scored the opening seven points before the Hoiho got moving.
Paige Bradley found Hurst alone for her first three of the game to drop and make the score 16-9.
The Kāhu ball movement around the arc was impressive and their quick ball distribution found Krystal Leger-Walker open to seal it.
Chelsea D’Angelo made a steal on the Kāhu break to find Bradley, who banked the triple.
Bowman then finished off a nice reverse and D’Angelo scored a jumper to trail by five.
There was much better defensive switch and hustle from the Hoiho, shutting down the Kāhu in the paint.
Tupaea quietened things for the Hoiho with a trademark triple for the Kāhu to lead 27-19 at the break.
Bowman scored a jumper, off a nice assist from Bradley, to score first in the second quarter.
Bradley limped from the court with what appeared to be a hamstring complaint with the score at 31-23.
The Kāhu charged ahead as the Hoiho adjusted without their star point guard, but the home team responded after a couple of minutes.
Thomas continued to be dominant, and was hard to shut down in the paint, for the Kāhu to hold the biggest lead of the game at 41-27.
The Hoiho pounced on misplaced passes from the Kāhu and worked really hard up and down the court.
But the Kāhu used their experience, and patience, to wait for the openings inside.
It gave the visitors a 49-34 lead at halftime.
Tupaea picked up where she left off with a triple to start the third quarter and Thomas pulled out the full compliment of her game when she banked a deep two.
Tyler Mitchell drained a much-needed three for the Hoiho, and Hurst picked the ball, to finish and draw the foul on the shot.
Thomas’ ability to sneak her way into the paint alone is second to none, giving her team-mates ample opportunities to find her and finish it off.
D’Angelo left the court with a cut to the head midway through the third.
Nat Chou went to work, driving hard to finish a jumper and draw the foul.
But the Kāhu still held a 72-56 lead at the break.
Abby Harris, Caitlin O’Connell, Elise Gilbert, Elise Carline and Millie Simpson got some minutes in the final quarter for the Hoiho.
