Brave Proteas go down to the Diamonds in the second test Down Under

Australia secured their 45th consecutive victory over the Proteas with a final score of 67-52 in front of a packed audience at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart earlier today.

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In the previous match, the Proteas suffered a 62-43 defeat, but they managed to narrow the margin by 15 goals in the second test.

During the first quarter of the match, the Diamonds secured an 18-13 lead, and they continued to maintain their advantage in the second quarter with a 14-12 score.

The third quarter saw the Diamonds elevate their game, extending their lead to 18-13, which ultimately posed a significant challenge for the Proteas.

The entertaining match concluded with the Diamonds sealing the final quarter, clinching a 17-14 scoreline. 

During a post-match press conference, Plummer expressed her view that the defeat is not a major setback, as she believes that the youthful squad will derive valuable experience from the encounter.

“The girls displayed strong determination, battling for possession of the ball, and I was genuinely pleased with their dedication. Our strategy was to provide opportunities for our young shooters as we are currently in a rebuilding phase and integrating new talent into the team. I’m not disheartened by the loss,” Plummer shared in her post-match press conference.

The third and ultimate test is scheduled for Tuesday at 10.30 a.m. (South African time) at MyState Bank Arena, and Plummer is optimistic about witnessing an improvement against her home country.

“No, Tuesday won’t be my farewell game. My departure is set for December. I’m looking for a performance that matches, if not surpasses, our previous efforts. We’re aiming to assert our dominance on the court. On the day of the match, our focus will be on observing the shooters and reviewing the video footage from the first two tests. As I conclude my time with South Africa, my primary goal is to encourage the development of our young talent to reach greater heights in the sport. I want to leave behind a strong team with the potential to excel in the future. We’ll take a break tomorrow (Monday) and return on Tuesday for the final match,” added Plummer.