The Southern Steel have completed one of the great comebacks to defend its ANZ Premiership title.
It came back from 11 goals down to beat the Central Pulse 54-53 in Palmerston North this afternoon.
The Steel trailed the whole game, before Te Paea Selby-Rickit made the winning shot with 25 seconds to play.
It was a win that seemed unlikely right until the final minute.
The Pulse started strongly, bringing intensity and physicality to shoot out to a 16-10 lead at the first break.
That continued early in the second quarter and at 21-10 it looked in control.
However, the Steel fought back.
Its attack began to operate more clinically and the defence began slowing down the Pulse.
That helped it reduce the deficit to three at one point, although it trailed 30-24 at halftime.
It pulled that gap back to four in an even third.
However, it was the Pulse that looked more likely early in the fourth.
It opened up another six goal gap, before the Steel got back within one with 1min 40sec to play.
From there a held ball call went against the Pulse, allowing Jennifer O'Connell to level things at 53-53.
The Steel then coolly took the lead, before holding out one final attack to claim the title.
See tomorrow's Otago Daily Times for more.
