Pulse fight back to win, Steel end drought

The Mystics’ inability to win without Grace Nweke is becoming real.

With their star Silver Ferns shooter sitting courtside with a knee injury, the Mystics squandered a hefty halftime lead to lose to the Central Pulse 52-47 in Auckland yesterday.

The Mystics will look back and wonder what happened after holding a 31-20 halftime advantage and impressing in the first half without their influential performer. The Auckland side led by as many as 12 goals late in the first half.

This was some second-half rally from the unbeaten Pulse, who produced a gritty fightback having headed to halftime down by 11.

The Pulse produced a second-half onslaught, outscoring the Mystics 32-16 after halftime to make it four wins from four to begin 2024. Talk about a dream start under first-year coach Anna Andrews-Tasola.

Wing attack Whitney Souness was the architect of the Pulse comeback, delivering a mighty showing in the midcourt. Souness fired off some pinpoint feeds to her shooters and also created an impact on the defensive end.

Defenders Kelly Jackson and Parris Mason both came into the game defensively in the second half after a quiet first 30 minutes.

Concerns about the Mystics’ struggles without Nweke in their lineup is becoming real.

The last time Nweke was on the sideline for the Mystics, in 2022 with an ankle issue ,the team fell apart, losing their final four round games.

Meanwhile, Southern Steel fans had every reason to pop the champagne after ending their 21-game losing streak on Saturday.

The Steel snapped their 713-day drought without a win, pipping the Stars 63-61 in an extra-time thriller in Invercargill.

It had been some wait for the Steel, who went 0-15 last season and had not tasted victory since May 22, 2022.

Their long losing run looked set to continue, trailing by eight at three-quarter time (50-42). With their backs against the wall, the Steel produced a powerful last quarter to tie the game at 58-58 at fulltime and send the match to extra-time.

Grace Namana sunk a vital late goal to put the Steel up by two in extra-time, capping off a fine outing, where she converted 43 from 49.

The loss keeps the Stars, last year’s beaten finalists, without a win through their opening four games.

Today’s match sees the unbeaten Tactix take on the Magic in Hamilton (7.45pm start).