A MESMERISING offensive performance from one of their star players has seen the Sutherland Sharks prove 14 points too good for the Central Coast Crusaders in the NBL1 East Women’s on the weekend.

The two teams faced off at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium on Saturday night, both eager to fire early in the season and improve their chances of winning it all by creating a solid foundation in the opening few rounds.

After a tense first half, the third quarter ended up being the defining factor of the match, with the Sharks breaking away on the scoreboard with an excellent two-way period that essentially brought Central Coast undone. The Crusaders were outscored 19-11 in that term, and although they performed much stronger in the fourth, it was too late, as the Sharks cruised to victory.

Anyone that watched the game would understand that one of the biggest factors in the game was the performance of Emily Garland, who played a huge role for the Sharks in the victory. A reliable source of scoring, Garland delivered a standout performance.

Central Coast Crusaders (65) def. by Sutherland Sharks (79)

Emily Garland – 32 points, eight rebounds

Garland was the most impactful player on the court in Sutherland’s win, proving to be a standout in an excellent team triumph.

Her 32 points were not matched by any other player on the court, with Garland proving far too much of a handful for the defence. She delivered a consistent, four-quarter performance that ended up having a big say in the result of the game.

From the field, Garland shot 11/16, taking over when teammate Kallie Hovatter ended up going cold from the field. The duo were the most common scoring options for the Sharks, but it was the former that had better luck shooting the ball.

Her biggest strength with ball in hand was her ability to shoot from long distance. She knocked down five three-pointers on six attempts, which was an extremely accurate performance. Whether it was off the dribble or firing off a shot without putting the ball on the floor. Although Central Coast tried to watch her on the perimeter, she fought through screens and never stopped running to get free.

Garland has had an excellent start to the year, and Saturday’s performance was a strong indication of the calibre of campaign she is in for in season 2023. With the capability to tear apart the defence, she should continue to torment teams with her elite shotmaking.