AIS Awake From Slumber
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
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The AIS have produced an energetic team performance to reel in Australian Defence Force WNBL newcomers the Christchurch Sirens and record their first win of the new season 82-67 at the AIS Training Hall.
This game had an eerie sameness about it for the first few minutes as the Institute ladies spluttered out of the barrier and Christchurch took advantage to skip to a 9-5 lead that looked likely to keep expanding.
Impressively though, the Institute team rallied itself with a flood of encouraging chatter and support from their bench and when Marianna Tolo reeled off six quick points inside they were back on an even keel.
The Sirens held a slim advantage after that first quarter (22-19), import guard Ashley Awkward looking very sharp off the dribble and in the open court.
The second period saw the AISís confidence continue to rise as Mia Newley (9 points for the quarter) and Nikita-Lee Martin (7 points) mixed up their mid-range and perimeter offerings successfully.
They had a 42-38 lead heading into the second half and despite a few shaky moments against Christchurchís three-quarter court press, a home win looked distinctly likely.
In a grinding third quarter it was only AIS forward Cayla Francisís rebounding (23 overall and 10 in this period) that enabled her team to maintain their slim advantage (53-51).
Cracks were showing though and the Sirenís best on the night, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe, was causing plenty of chaos inside the keyway.
Rebounding machine Francis caught fire for about a minute to start the last quarter, piling on seven startlingly quick points to set her team back on the road to just their second win in three seasons.
Tolo kept producing inside and despite a nervous twitch or two, the youngsters stretched it out nicely over the last four minutes to win convincingly.
AIS Head Coach Dean Kinsman was understandably fairly positive about the win.
ìItís a relief and an achievement for the girls to finish the game off confidently. It needs to be a building block for the rest of the season,î he said.
Australian Institute of Sport 82 (Marianna Tolo 21, Mia Newley 18, Cayla Francis 14) Christchurch Sirens 67 (Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe 19, Lisa Wallbutton 11, Donna Wilkins 10)
