Sirens’ Sweeping First Win
Tagged in: In The News, Tall Ferns
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Geoff Longley, The Press
Defining moments of sports teams’ campaigns do not strike too often but the Christchurch Sirens created one at Cowles Stadium on Saturday, scoring their breakthrough victory in the Australian WNBL.
It was not just any sort of win either, it was a 20-point trouncing of a team that had beaten the Sirens by 24 points when they first met – a whopping 45-point turnaround.
No-one was talking of a win before the game, a respectable loss would have probably been almost acceptable after a horrendous start to the season which included seven straight defeats and three leading players still sidelined with injury.
But the Sirens and coach Leigh Gooding showed they were made of sterner stuff, producing a complete four-quarter performance for the first time this season.
Dandenong, a respectable mid-table side, was never allowed to settle as the Sirens warmed to playing in their home gym which may now become known as the “Cowles Cauldron”.
The challenge now for the Sirens is to replicate that outstanding effort week in, week out with three more home matches to follow.
Gooding said the team had trained as well as he had known them in the lead-up to the match which was a good omen.
“But we put together four consistent quarters. We had a bit of a wobble in the third quarter but then got things quickly back together.”
Teams frantically searching for their first win can fold under pressure. When Dandenong edged to within 11 points, 60-49, in the third quarter and a few turnovers arose under pressure concerns surfaced.
But they proved groundless as the Sirens kept themselves together and shut the visitors out.
Gooding was down to eight fit frontline players and all responded, with five making double figures as the Sirens shot at 50 per cent for the match – a vast improvement on their season average of about 30%.
In contrast, it was Dandenong which was forced down to 30%, taking the same number of shots and being unable to exploit a significant height advantage.
Sirens forward Donna Wilkins led the defensive effort and by half time she had a double-double of points and rebounds. She finished with 17 rebounds to go alongside 15 points.
American forward Lamisha Augustine showed some nice offensive moves against renowned defender Emily McInerny while sharpshooters Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe and Ashley Awkward hit some telling jump shots.
The Sirens’ shooting was capped by Natalie Purcell who landed three three-pointers in the final quarter as Dandenong strove to rattle the home side.
Suzie Bates provided power and strength in the point guard position backing up Awkward while the athletic Toni Edmondson dragged down one of the biggest offensive rebounds a women player has taken at the venue.
The Victorian team leant heavily on guard Caitlin Ryan for some offensive thrust and she produced a game high 19 points.
Christchurch Sirens 77 (Natalie Purcell 16, Donna Wilkins 15, Lamisha Augustine 13, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe 10, Ashley Awkward 10) Dandenong Rangers 56 (Caitlin Ryan 19, Rachael Flanagan 12, Larissa Anderson 10)
