By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Rangers players will get a much-needed rest in the coming days after scoring their fourth win in nine days at Dandenong Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Rangers beat Sydney University Flames 78-72 despite looking every bit the spent force in the opening three quarters of the match until mounting a 21-0 run at the start of the final term to charge to victory.
After winning matches in Canberra and Sydney last round, the Rangers beat Bulleen Boomers at the Veneto Club on Saturday night before facing the Flames on Sunday.
Rangers coach Mark Wright said he had underestimated how exhausted his side was heading into the weekend but was proud the reigning WNBL champions found a way to overcome their fatigue to notch the win.
“I think I probably didn’t realise what last weekend took out of the girls after playing and travelling in the heat in Canberra and Sydney,” he said.
“We trained pretty hard during the week and then the Bulleen game was a physical, tough game and it took a lot out of the players as well.
“This week we will dial it back a bit and let the team recover because it’s been a tough two weeks.”
Rangers star Jenna O’Hea led all scorers with 23 points but was running gingerly due to a back problem, while April Sykes had 17 points for the Flames including two late three-pointers which pulled the Flames within six.
The Rangers also dominated the rebound count winning 40-29.
Wright said his side’s final term run came when they needed a spark.
“All match we just couldn’t find a combination which could keep up their energy on defence,” Wright said.
“But at the start of the last quarter the girls dug in and lifted their defence and that’s what created everything that followed.
“I think in the last couple of minutes we were holding on for dear life but we got there in the end.”
Rangers import Monica Wright played a key role in the run scoring 10 of her 13 points.
“Monica is a class above most players in the WNBL and we are lucky to have her as she is capable of going on scoring runs like that,” Mark Wright said.
The Rangers will hit the road again this weekend playing struggling Canberra in Canberra this Saturday night.
