Pulse go top
Northern Stars escaped with a dramatic 47-46 win against new ANZ Premiership leaders Central Pulse at Fly Palmy Arena, after the Pulse threw the game away when it was there for the taking.
The lead changed hands twice in the final 15 minutes after the Pulse closed the gap to just one goal heading into the final quarter, setting up a grandstand finish.
The Pulse snatched the lead with less than seven minutes to play when Tiana Metuarau put them 42-41 up.
But just as they looked to restore their advantage from their own centre pass after the Stars restored parity at 42-42, Whitney Souness threw a wild pass to Erikana Pedersen and the ball went out of bounds.
That handed the advantage back to the Stars who scored the next two goals through MaiaWilson and Jamie Hume.
The Pulse tied the game again at 45-45 with less than three minutes remaining after Gina Crampton was unable to retrieve a pass from Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and the ball went out of bounds.
They had a chance to snatch the lead again but Hume picked out a vital interception from a Souness back pass as the Pulse struggled to find a way through the Stars’ defence.
The Stars made them pay with Wilson and Hume scoring in quick succession before Metuarau closed the deficit to just one, but there was no time left as the Stars had the centre pass and were able to hang on for amemorable victory.
Despite losing the game, the Pulse were able to move to the top of the table after collecting a bonus point but they have played two more games than second-place Northern Mystics.
The big moment
The game looked to be tipping in the Pulse’s favour with about seven minutes to go but they threw the ball out of bounds when they had a chance to take a 43-42 lead,