New Zealand have ripped the Constellation Cup away from Australia by thrashing the Diamonds 61-43 at Perth’s RAC Arena.
The Silver Ferns entered Sunday’s fixture with a 2-0 lead in the four-match series after defeating Australia 64-50 and 63-52 in New Zealand. It meant Australia needed to beat New Zealand in Perth and Melbourne to level the series and send it to the newly formed extra-time period.
Scores were level just before half-time in Sunday’s match, but NZ started the third quarter with a 13-4 run to stun the home crowd and set up victory. Grace Nweke proved near unstoppable on enemy territory, the Star NZ shooter nailing 47 goals from 50 attempts to help secure victory and an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
The result marks the first time New Zealand will hold the Constellation Cup since 2021. The size of the win on Australian soil is set to send shudders through the Diamonds’ camp before Wednesday’s final match in Melbourne.
Nweke was had Ameliaranne Ekenasio (14 goals from 17 attempts) as a handy sidekick. Sophie Garbin finished with 26 goals from 28 attempts for Australia, while Sophie Dwyer added 14 from 20.
The Diamonds registered just two intercepts across the first two games of the series, but Jamie-Lee Price had two to her name in the first quarter alone on Sunday. The Australians found themselves in an early hole at 6-2 down, but Price’s heroics helped the home side level things up at 13-13 by quarter-time.
It was neck-and-neck in the second quarter until a late Diamonds turnover gave New Zealand a 28-26 edge at half-time.
The first-half battle between Courtney Bruce and Nweke made for intriguing viewing. The Diamonds goalkeeper is 4cm shorter than the 193cm Nweke but did her best to physically impose herself on the contest at every opportunity. Nweke scored 19 from 19 attempts in the first half but was made to work hard for each of her chances.
Rudi Ellis was brought on just before half-time to give Bruce a breather and was kept on for the third quarter. Ellis did her best to contain Nweke, but it was Australia’s turnovers further up the court that brought about the Diamonds’ undoing.
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The game was in effect over with five minutes remaining in the third quarter when NZ opened up a 41-30 lead.
The introduction of the hometown hero Sunday Aryang sparked a big cheer and she managed to snag an early intercept. But with NZ entering the final quarter with a 46-35 lead, it simply proved too much for Australia to overturn.