Ajax, South Pac dominate

LAST year’s finalists have got off to strong starts in the Dunedin women’s club competition.

Ajax and the South Pac Magic claimed big opening round wins on Tuesday night at the Edgar Centre. Both ran up big scores, while holding their opponents to under 50 points.

Ajax made use of a 215 first quarter to beat Varsity 8542. Guards Nicole Ruske and Olivia O’Neill combined for 15 of those.

Varsity got its score ticking over in the second quarter, but the difference was always too much to haul in. It went to halftime down 4320, before Ajax extended that to 6433 heading into the final break.

Ajax showed its range of threats in having five players score in doublefigures.

Hannah Matehaere led the way with 20 points, while Kate Edwards had 16, Natalie Smith finished with 13 and Ruske and O’Neill chipped in with 12 each.

Meanwhile, the South Pac Magic also got off to a fast start in its 9045 win over a young Andy Bay Kavanagh team.

Dayna Turnbull scored 16 points in the first quarter as the Magic shot out to a 309 lead early. It kept that going into the second and held a 5617 lead at halftime, extending that to 7330 at the end of the third.

Turnbull finished as the leading scorer with 27 points, while Otago Gold Rush import Dana Goularte chipped in with 16.

For Kavanagh, New Zealand under15 duo Annabelle Ring and Anita Samasoni led the way with 19 and 14 points respectively.