By Lachlan Onions
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers women showed their class once again as they claimed a solid 16-point win over the Sandringham Sabres at Wulanda on Friday night.
Mount Gambier shot the lights out to begin the game and made 83.3 percent of its three-pointer attempts in the first stanza.
However, despite their impressive efforts from beyond the arc, they went into quarter time trailing 25-27.
The first half lived up to expectations as neither side could take control of the contest with both teams trading blow for blow.
After an even battle, the visitors went into the main break with a slender 44-42 lead.
However, the third quarter was when the game opened up.
Sandringham took the ascendancy early in the second half and held a 49-42 lead.
With the Sabres threatening to stretch out in front, the Pioneers stood tall when they needed to most and quickly turned the tides of the game.
Mount Gambier ran riot in the third quarter in a full throttle assault which was spearheaded by Miela Goodchild and Sherrie Calleia.
Goodchild acquired 12 points in the third quarter, while Calleia notched up a handy nine points.
The Pioneers blew the Sabres away and went on a 31-5 run in a nine-minute onslaught from the second minute of the third period through to the first of the final stanza.
From there, it was all smooth sailing as the hosts went on to claim an 87-71 win.
Goodchild once again led the way with 27 points, six rebounds and five steals but had plenty of support as five players scored 10 points or more.
Haliegh Reinoehl continued her impressive form and notched up double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Isabella Brancatisano shone with 18 points, which included four three-pointers and nine rebounds.
Calleia (17) and Imogen Rock (10) both made solid contributions on the offensive end as well.
The Pioneers have now moved back up to third on the NBL1 South ladder with seven wins from 10 games and will face another tough clash this weekend when they host the Knox Raiders on Saturday night.
