Captain Lauren Mansfield donned her cape in what proved a super performance on Friday night to lead the down-and-out Launceston Tornadoes to a road victory.
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On the back of coach Ben Rush’s shock departure just hours earlier, Mansfield put away a season-high 29 points in addition to the 168cm guard’s six rebounds and five assists to overcome Sydney Uni Sparks 83-78.
“I was really focused on being a leader out there on the court,” Mansfield said.
“I think that’s what the team needed. I was more focused on getting through the plays, but I was definitely ready to step up, take those open shots and be aggressively offensively as well.
“I’m happy with how we went and just to get the win.”
Mansfield scored 13 of her side’s 27 last-term points, including three two-pointers in the opening 90 seconds to pull away to a 11-point lead midway through the quarter.
But when the hosts Sparks were coming home strong, the 27-year-old seasoned campaigner held her nerve at the paint to shoot four foul shots in the final 15 seconds.
Lauren Nicholson shot 17 points and Tayla Roberts 14.
Mansfield was proud of the resolute front amid the sudden split from their coach.
“We’re definitely a unified team. We’re still getting to know each other, but we are quite a close team,” she said.
“It really showed tonight we all care for each other and we’re there for each other.
“We did a really good job staying together as a team.
“I love these girls, I love playing with them and I think it’s going to be a fun year.”