THE Dandenong Rangers have scored a gritty 20-point win against Sandringham in the Big V Championship women’s competition.
The 73-53 upset at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium on Saturday night was ugly, messy and mostly defensive, but after a 3-5 start to the season, the Rangers welcomed the win with open arms.
Now with four wins and five losses and sixth on the ladder, Dandenong is scheduled to play Eltham, also 4-5, this Saturday night in another season-defining match.
Melissa Colcott scored a game-high 21 points for the Rangers, including 17 points from the free-throw line.
Colcott struggled from the floor, netting only four of 22 two-point attempts, but dominated the boards, snaring 17 rebounds.
Dandenong’s defensive efforts were the highlight of the game, as Colcott, Kassie Dear and Tarryn Ring helped restrict the Sabres to just four points in the third period.
Sandringham’s field goal strike rate of just 23 per cent made Dandenong’s 34 per cent look impressive.
Offensively, Claire Fitzgerald contributed 13 points for Dandenong and Ring added 10.
Alex Lough high-scored for Sandringham, netting 15.