Borrego shoots T-birds into final

SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):

Carla Borrego made a timely return to form to lead the Adelaide Thunderbirds into the Grand Final of the ANZ Championship, with a stunning 52-38 upset win over the New South Wales Swifts yesterday.

The Jamaican goal shooter had struggled with an ankle injury in recent matches and had not been her usual self in the attacking semi-circle. But she returned to something near her best to score 37 goals from 43 attempts and help the T-birds hand the

Swifts their first loss of the season.

The two teams were evenly matched in the opening few minutes, but the T-birds heaped pressure on the Swifts and for the first time this season, the cracks appeared in the armour of the side from NSW, which finished the regular season in top spot.

Contesting every ball and shutting down their opponents' space, the T-birds overcame their jittery start and their quick transition through court saw them take a 14-10 lead at the first break.

INCREASING INTENSITY

The T-birds' intensity continued on the resumption, smothering through court defence causing a host of turnovers from the Swifts.

With such easy passage through court, Borrego and goal attack Erin Bell provided the finishing touches under the hoop to power the T-birds to a 31-18 half-time lead.

The T-birds were unrelenting in the third period and seized control, particularly when the Swifts lost goal shooter Catherine Cox with a thigh injury, after she suffered a blow to the face earlier.

The steady scoring continued and the T-birds walked into the last break with a 45-27 lead.

With the game comfortably in the bag for the visitors, the T-birds had the luxury of giving their entire bench a run in the final few minutes, while the Swifts were left with plenty to ponder.