Pulsating comeback as Steel let victory slip
Another ANZ Premiership clash between the Central Pulse and the Southern Steel, another comeback last night.
The Pulse’s surge from five goals down to six goals in front this time around wasn’t as large as the Steel’s recovery from 11 down to three in front last time out.
But the turnaround that led to their 50-44 win at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin was no less dramatic.
The Pulse trailed by five approaching the end of the third quarter, but went on an 8-0 run while keeping the Steel scoreless for more than five minutes.
The hosts got back in the contest
from there to ensure the visitors didn’t run away with it, but couldn’t mount a comeback of their own.
The Pulse suffered a setback after just three minutes when wing defence Paris Lokotui went down clutching her left knee with no-one around her.
She had to be helped off the court and was on crutches afterwards, potentially looking at an extended spell on the sidelines.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie went with*
Courtney Elliott as Lokotui’s immediate replacement, but changed things up at the end of the first quarter, with her side trailing by five.
Maddy Gordon moved back to wing defence, with ex-Tactix player Erikana Pedersen coming on in her place at centre, and her efforts winning ball played a big part in her side’s resurgence.
The Pulse closed within one as they started the second quarter strongly, but by halftime the Steel had restored their buffer to four goals.
The start of the fourth loomed as a crucial period and the Pulse came out firing once more, taking the lead for the first time since the opening exchanges after two minutes and eventually dominating the quarter 15-5 and win going away.