Streak Ends
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
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Australian Institute of Sport have ended the Christchurch Siren’s four-match winning streak, beating their visitors 87-83 in a Australian Defence Force WNBL match in Canberra.
In one of the season’s best games to date, AIS came out smoking at the start from all over the court, piling on 42 points in the first fifteen minutes to sail away to what looked like an insurmountable 20-point lead.
The Sirens’ fought back with Natalie Purcell sinking three unanswered triples pointers and teammate Donna Wilkins caressed in another to reignite the contest.
The AIS lead was slashed back to just 10 points at halftime, 44-34, and some tactical adjustments from Sirens coach Leigh Gooding saw his team get on the front foot defensively and start to rattle the AIS youngsters in the third period.
Wilkins was a tower of strength for the visitors and only matched by the imperturbable Cayla Francis (34 points and 12 rebounds), who continued to pile on the offence and sweep the glass at the defensive end.
The margin shrunk to just two points several times in the last quarter and a bit, but each time the AIS responded to inch away by seven or eight points.
With Wilkins fouling out in the dying minutes, AIS maintained composure at the free throw line to once again to seal a stirring win.
