Robinhood Stars secure stunning extra extra-time win over Mystics

The Robinhood Stars have created history with an enthralling 79-77 extra extra-time ANZ Premiership triumph over the top of the table MG Mystics in Auckland.

It's the first time a game has been decided in extra extra-time, after the teams played out a 67-all draw in regulation.

The Stars came out firing to start the game, heaping pressure on the Mystics across the court and being rewarded with a chunk of turnovers, with Kelera Nawai-Caucau and Elle Temu snatching the ball off the Mystics at the defensive end.

The Stars expertly turned defence into attack and with Mila Reuelu-Buchanan swift with ball in hand, began to rack up the goals, as Maia Wilson and Amorangi Malesala were sharp in the shooting circle, as the Stars led by as many as seven goals.

The Mystics however kept coming at the Stars, before forcing some turnovers of their own and cut into the Stars lead - with the Stars taking a 19-16 lead into the second quarter.

The Mystics kept their momentum from the end of the first quarter and scored quick goals, after winning ball off the Stars and suddenly were in front. The Stars leant on their cliche grit to fight back and tie the game, before nabbing a go-ahead goal midway through the quarter.

It was becoming a case of who would blink first in a titanic tussle, as both sides traded goals at will and it would be the Mystics who would win the arm wrestle for ascendancy with the pressure causing the Stars to bend and the Mystics built up a three goal advantage.

The Stars stole the ball in the dying seconds, before converting, which saw the Mystics hold a 37-35 lead after an exhilarating half of netball.

The Mystics put their foot to the throttle early in the third quarter - building a healthy advantage that blew out to six goals quickly, stunning the Stars in the process.

With the Mystics threatening to run away with the contest, the Stars dug their heels in and found a timely second wind. The Mystics made sloppy errors and the Stars mopped up the ball and ate away at the deficit to trail 52-51 heading into the final quarter.

Both sides then produced one of the most hotly contested quarters of the season, with each team refusing to break. As was the theme for much of the night, goals were traded back and forth, with the vital forced turnover alluding them.

The Stars showed tremendous poise in amongst a hostile environment, sticking to their processes and converting their possessions under pressure.

With time almost up on the clock and the Stars down by one, the ball fell to Malesala who calmly nailed her shot to send the game to extra-time, with the scores locked at 67-all.

Mystics shooter Grace Nweke had the opportunity to steal the game with the last shot, but it bounced off the rim and we were heading to extra extra-time for the first time in competition history.

The temperature on court was turned up a couple of notches and with the first team to go ahead by two goals to be deemed the winner, the stage was set for an epic crescendo.

The Mystics started the period with the ball, so the Stars knew they'd have to be perfect if they were to sneak victory. The Stars maintained their steely focus and after some back and forth, it would be Malesala who would rubber stamp her mark on the game with a critical intercept, which Wilson finished off to have the Stars one goal away from victory.

The Stars worked the ball up the court and found the woman of the moment Malesala, who took a deep breath and flushed the ball through the net to give the Stars one of the most dramatic wins in their history.

The win is huge in the context of the Stars season and moves them to within one point of the top three.

The Stars next game is at home against the Avis Magic on Sunday in Auckland, where they'll try to edge back into the top three.