The road woes of the Wollongong Hawks continued last night as the last-placed Melbourne Tigers cruised to an easy win at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.
After making a strong finish to the opening quarter, the hosts were never tested as the Hawks sunk to a 2-9 record away from the comfortable confines of WIN Entertainment Centre.
Mid-season recruit Julius Hodge led a balanced Tigers side with with 20 points, while guard Daryl Corletto was next best with 15 as the Tigers prevailed 84-65. The writing was on the wall for the Hawks as early as the final minutes of the opening quarter when Melbourne closed out the term with a 14-0 run to take a 29-19 lead.
Full coverage of the Wollongong Hawks Wollongong closed the margin to seven points midway through the second quarter following a Rhys Martin three-pointer.
But that didn't deter the Tigers, who then went on a 16-7 run to close out the half.
Hodge led the home side with 14 first-half points, three more than Boomers duo Mark Worthington and Chris Anstey.
Larry Davidson played a lone hand for the Hawks, compiling 12 first-half points. Despite not scoring in the second half, Davidson still finished the match as Wollongong's top scorer.
The second half was more of the same, with the Tigers making light work of the fourth-placed Hawks.
Wollongong could manage just 11 points in the third quarter, to enter the final term staring down the barrel of a 65-47 deficit.
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