One through, one more to come.

The South Pac Magic has won the direct path to the women’s club final.

That came after a 49-42 win over Ajax in Tuesday night’s quarterfinal between the top two teams.

The Magic will play the winner of the match between Ajax and Andy Bay Kavanagh in two weeks.

That follows Kavanagh’s 64-44 win over South Pac OGHS in Tuesday’s must-win quarterfinal between the third and fourth-placed teams.

It was a flurry on either side of halftime that proved key for the Magic.

Ajax made a stronger start as Natalie Smith (15 points) and Nicole Ruske (11 points) helped it establish a double-digit lead midway through the second quarter.

Georgia Te Au

However, the Magic defence began coming up with stops and its offence began to click at the other end.

It looked to push the ball in transition, while moving it well in the half court to reel in the deficit.

Guards Soraya Umaga-Jensen (13 points) and Georgia Te Au (eight points) proved influential in reducing the deficit to 27-23 and then surging ahead after the break.

As well as providing the bulk of the scoring through that stretch, the duo controlled the offence and earned the Magic quality shots.

However, Ajax did not go away.

It stemmed the Magic’s flow before it pulled away and kept the score close - although it trailed by one heading into the fourth quarter.

That final quarter became a grind, both teams finding it difficult to score. Ajax was held to just four points, while the Magic went inside to forwards Fay Fualau and Letitia Mullaly to help it over the line.

In the late game, Annabelle Ring led Kavanagh with 30 points as it comfortably accounted for OGHS.

It jumped out to a 17-7 lead and, while it was unable to pull away in the second quarter, it extended that to 50-31 at the final break.

In the fifth and sixth game, Varsity beat the Andy Bay Falcons 73-42.

The competition takes a break next week for the under-23 national championships.

Story: ODT

A Grade results

OU Womens A’s 73 def 42 Andy Bay Falcons A

South Pac Magic A’s 49 def 42 Ajax 1

Andy Bay Kavanagh 64 def 44 South Pac OGHS

B Grade results

OU Womens Blue 57 def 18 South Pac Magic Black

South Pac Coasters 60 def 33 South Pac Magic Purple

Andy Bay Falcons B def Ajax Miners by default