3x3 star Sowah blistering from three in Opals win

• Australian Opals lead the Trans-Tasman Throwdown women's series 1-0 after an 88-70 victory
• Miela Sowah led the scoring with 23 points, including 4-from-7 from the three-point line
• Sara Blicavs had nine points in 21 minutes in her return for the Opals

The relentless defensive pressure from the Australian Opals proved too much for the New Zealand Tall Ferns with a 27-13 final quarter handing the home side a 1-0 lead in the Trans-Tasman Throwdown series after an 88-70 win at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Australia forced 24 turnovers from the Tall Ferns to run away with the victory from an otherwise tough and young New Zealand side, who trailed by just four points going into three-quarter time.

The Tall Ferns, under new coach Nat Hurst, didn't look daunted early as Sharne Robati provided a tough challenge for Australia's bigs on her way to 19 points for the game, including 14 in the first half.

Perth Lynx sharpshooter and Australian 3x3 star Miela Sowah made her presence felt immediately with the Tall Ferns leaving her open from the perimeter as she found her way into double digits in the first half. She finished with a game high 21 points on 7-from-10 from the field, including 4-from-7 from three.

Australia held a nine-point lead at halftime but New Zealand came out firing with 27 points in the third quarter compared to just 22 from the Opals as Hurst's side were able to reduce the deficit and find their way back in the game.

But whatever message Opals associate head coach Paul Goriss delivered at the final break worked, as Australia lifted their defensive pressure with the young Tall Ferns struggling to execute on the offensive end.

Add more wide open threes for Sowah as well as contributions from Alex Fowler (12 points) and Courtney Woods (11 points) and the Opals dominated the final quarter, winning the period by 14 points to take the win.

Despite the result, the performance leaves plenty of room for improvement for the Opals ahead of game two on the Sunshine Coast on Friday.