Robinhood Stars make it three from three over Tactix

The Robinhood Stars have completed a clean sweep of the Trident Homes Tactix with a third straight ANZ Premiership victory, triumphing 56-48 in Auckland. 

After a slow start the Stars found their feet and entered the contest with some enterprising play, with slick passing leading to Jamie Hume and Maia Wilson combining and converting in the shooting circle.

The Stars were unable to convert multiple forced turnovers midway through the quarter and then gave away some cheap ball of their own, which the Tactix made the most of to pull out to a four-goal lead. 

The Stars then rallied with a strong surge late in the quarter - an Anna Harrison gain off a missed Tactix shot sparked a comeback and with some classy play the deficit was just one goal as the Tactix led 14-13 at quarter-time. 

Both teams traded blows early in the second stanza, with Amorangi Malesala coming on and assisting Wilson in the shooting circle.

The mid court of Kayla Johnson, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Gina Crampton were industrious on attack and defence and fought hard for ball and made the most of possession while lighting the offensive fire as the Stars came back into the game.

The Stars suffocated the Tactix on defence and forced some crucial errors, before capitalising and wrestling back the lead to take a 29-27 advantage into half-time.

The Stars shot out of the gates to start the second half - stunning the Tactix with some swift and relentless play as they extended their lead to as many as five goals within the first half of the third quarter.

The Stars couldn't maintain the pace of play however and with some loose play, the Tactix were able to sneak back into the contest and eat away at the deficit, with the scores suddenly level with a couple of minutes to play in the third period.

The Stars lifted late, with some great defensive pressure and more importantly converted turnovers and regained the lead and were up 40-38 heading into the deciding quarter. 

The Stars took hold of the game in the fourth quarter, with some stylish play, stringing together slick passes and forcing turnovers, as they extended their lead to nine with a flurry of goals. 

The Tactix continually looked for a way back, but the Stars hung tough, before eventually coming away with a 56-48 win and a third of the campaign.

The defensive end was rock solid as always, Elle Temu produced an MVP performance with an intercept, six deflections and five gains and was a nuisance all night. Anna Harrison was equally as impressive on defence, finishing the game with four gains, two intercepts and two deflections.

Maia Wilson produced one of her best shooting performances of the season - netting 31 of her 34 shots at goal at over 90 percent. 

The Stars turn their attention to the MG Northern Mystics, with the Northern rivals facing off for the first time on Sunday in Auckland.