Severn Stars secured an opening day victory against Surrey Storm with a closely fought 56-47 win at the Resorts World Arena.
17-year-old goal shooter Isabelle Eaton converted the first goal of the match but there was nothing to separate the two sides as they headed into the second quarter all square at 13-13.
The Stars began to build a lead heading into half time as they led 25-23 with Eaton and Paige Reed displaying a dangerous partnership for the season.
A strong and dominant performance from the Stars in the second half saw Melissa Bessell’s side earn a 56-47 win and receive their first point of the season.
Stars kicked off their season with a well-worked goal between captain Liana Leota and Eaton from the centre pass as Leota looked to find Eaton with a series of short passes.
Storm looked to instantly reply from the centre, but the height of Lucy Herdman and Summer Artman proved to be too much for Proscovia Peace as intercepted the pass.
Bessell’s side were quick to take a 2-0 lead after Storm’s Leah Middleton was penalised for contact against Reed who was able to calmly convert her shot.
The Surrey side were quick to nullify the two-goal deficit with two well-worked finishes by new signing Peace.
A quick double from Reed saw the Stars earn their fifth and sixth goals in the tightly contested match.
Iman Thomas looked for the looping long ball over to teammate Leota, but Storm’s wing defence Niamh Cooper flew in at speed to intercept and turn over play.
The partnership between Herdman and Artman proved to be vital for the Stars once again as they were there to catch the rebound of Emma Magee’s shot.
Heading into the closing stages of the first quarter, Bessell opted to sub in Elisha New to the centre position who was able to inject speed into the game and see out the final moments.
Into the final minutes of the first 15 minutes, Storm’s Mikki Austin threaded a looping ball over the top to Peace who was able to stabilise herself and draw the game to 13-13.
Stars coach Bessell subbed Thomas off for new signing Nicole Humphreys who was on to face her former side.
Reed displayed a tactical set play from a penalty after looking to play the drop shot back to Leota but switched and looped a pass over to the unmarked Eaton who dispatched her shot.
Eaton was seen in space once again by Reed but the pass was cut out by Alima Priest who looked to recycle the ball at speed.
The Storm counterattack looked to be on before Humphreys charged in to put a stop to it and capture the ball before Yasmin Parsons.
In-form Reed made way for former Wasps’ attacker Katie Harris who was forced straight into the action as she looked to draw both defenders away from the youngster Eaton.
Storm looked to freshen things up with a change at both ends which saw Frankie Wells come on in the goal attack role and Ali Robson replace Middleton.
An outside arm interception from Storm prevented the counterattack from Leota who was looking to thread Harris through right before halftime.
Stars had a two-goal advantage at half time as they led 25-23.
Heading into the third quarter, Storm looked to overturn the deficit quickly, but a couple of unforced errors provided Stars with a four-goal lead.
Bessell looked to disturb Storm’s momentum by freshening things up with the return of Harris and Thomas.
Quick feet from Storm’s goal defence enabled her to intercept Herdman’s pass in the centre third, catching the Stars’ defender out of position and leaving Peace in acres of space to convert the shot.
The Stars continued to lead once again as they headed into the final quarter with a 38-33 lead.
Storm returned to the court fighting as they looked to overturn the deficit but the strength of the defensive partnership was again too.
Reed’s quality and intelligence was displayed once again after she used the post to pass to herself from the backline pass and lined herself up to sink the shot.
With both sides throwing everything at it in the closing stages, the focus of Herdman remained the same as she jumped higher than her opponent to reclaim the ball and overturn the play.
In the final two minutes, Storm looked to inject some final energy into the game with two substitutes, but a few unforced errors denied them of a comeback.
Stars took the victory, winning 56-47 and earning their first point of the season as goal attack Paige Reed displayed a player of the match performance.
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