A THIRD straight 20-point showing from Sara Blicavs helped Melbourne Tigers become the first side to roll Dandenong Rangers in 2025 as they pipped them at the post thanks to a second half comeback in the NBL1 South Women’s Round 3 action.

The Tigers were coming off a frustrating nine-point loss against Diamond Valley Eagles last Tuesday, the first win the Eagles had strung together after three consecutive losses to open the season. The Tigers sat at 1-2 after the loss to Diamond Valley, but with Blicavs missing that first match of the round, the star returned for the Sunday game.

Blicavs was in her third game back from serious spinal surgery that kept her off the court for over 12 months, but has not missed a beat since her return. Suiting up for the Tigers at Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre on Sunday afternoon, Blicavs won the opening jump ball and scored five first quarter points as her side edged ahead by four points to quarter time.

The second quarter belonged to the Rangers though, with Dallas Loughridge and Manuela Puoch turning around a 28-23 deficit three minutes into the term to score the seven points and take the lead just 96 seconds later. They would put up 14 points between them in the quarter, and the Rangers would make it an 11-point turnaround to lead by three heading into half-time.

Bursting out of the blocks, Georgia Booth drained two triples, while Manuela Puoch made good on an And-One chance, with the first two minutes seeing a 9-0 run in favour of the visitors and stretching the lead out to 12 points. Melbourne did chew into the deficit as the likes of Eve Braslis and Isobel Borlase hit crucial shots, and the Tigers went at 100 per cent from the field in the last four minutes to pile on 16-5 in that stretch.

Incredibly a Sienna Harvey layup in the dying seconds of the quarter handed Melbourne back the lead and the Tigers had the belief that an upset was brewing. Just one point separated the sides with a quarter to play, and in a tight contest, the 6-0 run at the start of the term for the Tigers proved critical. The lead was quickly out to seven until Booth hit the next five points.

Blicavs was subbed in for the last six months, and immediately pulled in two defensive rebounds. Dandenong refused to go away as their unbeaten record this season remained on tenterhooks. The teams traded blows until the very last few moments of the match. Loughridge nailed yet another triple to cut the deficit to one point, and with 10 seconds remaining, drew the foul on Blicavs to go to the line.

Blicavs hit one of two from the charity stripe, giving the ball back to the Rangers for the last possession and trailing by two. The one to take the last shot was Loughridge who had not had an accurate last term. That three-pointer was the first she had hit after four earlier misses. With five seconds left she took a chance from inside the arc to draw level but missed and the Tigers were able to hold onto the rock and secure a famous 82-80 victory.

Blicavs would finish with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds, shooting eight of 17 from the field (47 per cent) including three of seven from beyond the arc. She and Borlase (20 points, seven rebounds and nine assists) were particularly dominant as a one-two punch, while Braslis’ cameo off the bench for a speedy 19 points in 22 and a half minutes was also vital to the wing.

Like the Tigers, the Rangers also had a three-prong attack with Booth (22 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals) top-scoring, while Loughridge did not miss a second during her 21-point, five-rebound and three-assist performance. Puoch (20 points, seven rebounds) was another valuable contributor to the cause. Both Loughridge and Booth combined for seven of 15 from three-point range but it would not be enough.

In other results across the weekend, Nunawadin Spectres won a thrilling three-point game against Ringwood Hawks before going down to Casey Cavaliers by six points on Saturday to join the Tigers on an even 2-2 record from three rounds. Hobart Chargers snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Ballarat Miners, while Geelong United saw off Waverley Falcons and Bendigo Braves to be the only tam with four straight wins to open the year.

SOUTH ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Tuesday, April 8:

Diamond Valley Eagles (90) def. Melbourne Tigers (81)

Wednesday, April 9:

Ringwood Hawks (58) def. by Nunawading Spectres (61)

Friday, April 11:

Hobart Chargers (58) def. by Kilsyth Cobras (62)
Waverley Falcons (56) def. by Geelong United (77)
Launceston Tornadoes (86) def. by Ballarat Miners (94)
Frankston Blues (64) def. by Diamond Valley Eagles (82)
Mt Gambier Pioneers (71) def. Sandringham Sabres (55)
Dandenong Rangers (96) def. Keilor Thunder (53)

Saturday, April 12:

Geelong United (79) def. Bendigo Braves (61)
Launceston Tornadoes (65) def. by Kilsyth Cobras (71)
Nunawading Spectres (56) def. by Casey Cavaliers (62)
Hobart Chargers (86) def. Ballarat Miners (69)
Mt Gambier Pioneers (64) def. by Eltham Wildcats (76)

Sunday, April 13:

Keilor Thunder (55) def. Frankston Blues (54)
Melbourne Tigers (82) def. Dandenong Rangers (80)

>> FULL NBL1 RESULTS