25 Mar 2014

Mystics upset Thunderbirds

3:16 pm on 25 March 2014

In the upset of the trans-Tasman netball championship, the winless Northern Mystics have beaten the defending champion Adelaide Thunderbirds 71-68 in Auckland.

It took extra time, but the Mystics' win ends a 16-game winning streak for the Thunderbirds.

Mystics captain Maria Tutaia says it's been a long time coming.

The turnaround for the Mystics was inspired by the return of Silver Fern Anna Harrison, showing no signs of the foot injury that delayed her comeback to the court after the birth of her first child.

Harrison and fellow defender Jodi Todd-Elliot used the Harrison Hoist regularly.

Tutaia says their connections through the court was better, while they were also able to pick up turnovers.

Cathrine Latu shot 95 percent for the Mystics and Tutaia 81.

The Thunderbirds are third on the table and the Mystics are now second from bottom.