By Chan Hui Mui/Red Sports.

National University of Singapore, Wednesday, January 13, 2009 – Singapore Management University (SMU) qualified for the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Netball Championship semi-finals with a 43-33 win over Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).

SMU’s dominating first-quarter performance saw them set up the win with swift movement and slick passes that allowed them to send balls into the goal circle with ease. By the time NYP scored their first goal, SMU already had five on the board.

NYP simply had no answer to SMU’s attack. Inaccurate shooting from NYP, when they had their chances, exacerbated the situation.

So when NYP finally found their second goal, SMU had bagged yet another four goals. SMU then scored another two goals to close out the first quarter 11-2.

In the second quarter, Jessica Teo replaced Ong Pei Shi in the position of Goal Attack for NYP. The substitution immediately paid dividends as NYP increased their shooting percentage and reduced the deficit to six points.

However, some poor passes from NYP resulted in turnovers that undid their earlier good work, allowing the deficit to widen to nine points.

SMU maintained the buffer they had on NYP in the first quarter as they closed out the second 23-14.

In the third quarter, NYP’s shooters put up dismal figures with inaccurate shots. The NYP shooters were letting down their defenders who were stopping the SMU attack and providing them with many shooting opportunities.

On the other hand, sharp shooting from SMU’s Goal Shooter Diana Chew helped SMU widen their lead to 11 points.

Despite trailing 20-31, NYP put up a strong fight in the last quarter. SMU put in the first few goals of the quarter before NYP hit back with four consecutive goals of their own.

Then, NYP followed up by matching every SMU shot made with a goal of their own. However, the deficit was too large for NYP to make up and SMU wrapped up the game 43-33.

SMU will face Group B winners, Temasek Polytechnic (TP), in the semi-finals.

In the other semi-final, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) clash with arch-rivals National University of Singapore (NUS).

Both matches will be played at the NUS outdoor netball courts on Friday at 7pm.