Gutsy Sirens Lack Polish
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
Stuff.co.nz
Sydney University settled a score with the Christchurch Sirens winning Friday night’s Australian Defence Force WNBL match 71-56 at Cowles Stadium.
The victory tipped the season ledger in Sydney’s favour 2-1 after a below-strength visitors side had succumbed to the Sirens in their first visit to Christchurch, 79-55.
The Sirens did well enough defensively to keep Sydney within sight and 10 points down on its season average but a lack of offensive finesse both near and far from the hoop proved costly.
The Sirens took more shots, 74, than the visitors’ 65, but at a markedly poorer percentage going at 30 per cent to Sydney’s 40%.
“Our lack of poise under pressure showed and it’s not for the first time. We had a good number of lay-ups and two-footers we should have put away but didn’t,” lamented coach Leigh Gooding.
“We tend to panic a bit and just didn’t really seem to get going at the offensive end.”
Sydney was also markedly superior from long range hitting seven of 17 three-pointers to the Sirens meagre two of 13.
The Sirens missed the injured Natalie Purcell, its most potent shooter from outside the arc, while sister Charmian has returned to the bench with complications following her comeback from knee surgery.
Gooding said the duo was needed when trying to keep Australian Opal Natalie Porter quiet in the first spell. The 1.9m power forward landed 20 points in the opening half and was tough to contain with her strength and skill.
Gooding was disappointed with the lack of defensive intensity from the Sirens in the second quarter when they trailed 43-27 at the break.
The Sirens had also struggled around the boards trailing Sydney 29-17 in the rebound count although that evened up later.
The Sirens scrapped their way back forcing 23 turnovers from the visitors and trimmed the margin back to 13 points midway through the final quarter 58-45.
Had two relatively straightforward opportunities been converted it would have been 58-51 and Sydney was wilting under the onslaught.
The win kept Sydney in second place on the league ladder with 14 wins from 20 matches and on target for the play-offs alongside Adelaide and Canberra with only the fourth spot in contention.
Only two Sirens posted double figures with the elusive Noni Wharemate making 13 and holding her own against Australian Opal Alicia Poto in the guardline.
The Sirens will seek to climb above the Australian Institute of Sport in the battle for eighth spot when hosting the Institute next Saturday.
Sydney University 71 (Natalie Porter 24, Eva Afeaki 12, Michelle Musselwhite 11) Christchurch Sirens 56 (Noni Wharemate 13, Lamisha Augustine 12)
