The Avis Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic produced a stunning second-half comeback to mark co-captain Erena Mikaere’s 150th national league appearance in style, defeating Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse 50-39 in Hamilton on Saturday.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the Magic overturned a six-goal halftime deficit with a commanding second-half performance that left the visitors struggling to respond.
Veteran defender Mikaere was central to the occasion, helping inspire a defensive effort that transformed the contest after the break. Alongside Oceane Maihi, she applied relentless pressure that disrupted the Pulse shooting circle and created crucial turnover opportunities.
At the other end of the court, shooter Saviour Tui delivered one of her finest performances of the season. The dynamic goal attack was a constant threat with her athletic movement, aerial ability and accurate finishing. Tui converted 34 of her 36 attempts and capped off her standout display by sinking the game’s only two-point shot as time expired.
Both teams entered the match on the back of season-best performances the previous week, despite being out of Finals Series contention. That intensity was evident early as the Pulse made the stronger start, scoring the opening three goals and establishing control through efficient attacking play.
Pulse captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio led the charge, while centre Emma Thompson’s delivery into the circle and the introduction of shooter Ine-Mari Venter helped the visitors build an eight-goal advantage during the second quarter.
The Magic responded after a tactical timeout, introducing Kate Taylor into the shooting circle. The move injected fresh energy into the home side, with Georgie Edgecombe and Mikaere lifting the defensive pressure while Tui continued to provide a reliable target under the hoop.
Despite the resurgence, the Pulse held a 26-20 lead at halftime.
The match shifted dramatically after the break. The Magic defence tightened, forcing errors and restricting scoring opportunities as the Pulse attack began to lose cohesion. Capitalising on turnovers, the home side found greater rhythm through midcourter Ariana Cable-Dixon, whose delivery into Tui and Taylor helped unlock the Pulse defence.
The third quarter saw the Magic cut deeply into the deficit, limiting the visitors to just nine goals and reducing the margin to three heading into the final quarter.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Magic struck for the lead early in the final period and never looked back. Their defensive intensity continued to smother the Pulse, who became increasingly error-prone as the home side surged clear.
The remarkable turnaround saw the Magic outscore the Pulse 30-13 in the second half, completing a memorable victory and providing the perfect celebration for Mikaere’s milestone match.
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