Shooting star Dunn keeps Pulse racing
Teenage shooter Aliyah Dunn continued her emergence as a rising star while ensuring the Central Pulse strengthened their lead in the ANZ Premiership.
Dunn netted 38 of her 40 attempts in just three quarters as the Pulse defeated the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 61-46 in Hamilton yesterday.
It was the fourth win from as many matches for the side from the capital, while their hosts sit bottom of the New Zealand domestic netball competition, having yet to record a win from three outings.
With Silver Ferns goal keep Kelly Jury sidelined with a dislocated elbow suffered in Wednesday’s loss to the Southern Steel, the Magic started with Kate Lloyd as her replacement, teaming up with former Ferns captain Casey Kopua.
Lloyd wasn’t able to do much to stop Dunn regularly being able to find her spot near the post when she wanted and was supremely accurate from close range. Lloyd was replaced by Hannah Ridling in the final quarter as Magic coach Margaret Forsyth used all of her squad.
At the other end, key goal shoot Lenize Potgieter made her first start for the hosts after coming on in Wednesday’s loss in the second quarter, with the South African recovering from an ankle injury that kept her out of the Commonwealth Games. She shot an impressive 40/43 but lacked support.
The first quarter was dominated by defence, as the Pulse eked out a 12-10 advantage. The visitors could only manage one goal in the first 4:30 of the encounter but the Magic were troubled by offensive turnovers and difficulties feeding their attacking circle against current national captain Katrina Grant and former Magic defender Sulu Fitzpatrick.
The Pulse took control in the second quarter with Dunn springing to prominence, netting 17 of her 18 attempts on that 15-minute spell to push the visitors out by 10 at the major break.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland Durie replaced Dunn’s fellow teenaged circle partner Tiana Metuarau with Ameliaranne Ekenasio at the start of the second half.
The Magic did draw within five midway through the spell but the Pulse netted nine of the next 10 – enough to earn Dunn a rest.
Grant and centre Claire Kersten also stood out for the victors and the skipper said her young side was racking up important wins.
‘‘We’ve got youngsters all over the court doing great things. They’re mature beyond their years,’’ said Grant, who felt the final margin was a little flattering.
‘‘I’ve felt these games have been closer – we’ve been a bit patchy. We have good runs but teams are still getting good runs on us.’’
In the other two matches in the third round, the Steel host the Northern Mystics tonight and the Mainland Tactix host the Northern Stars on Wednesday night.