Relics grabbed an early double-digit lead and finally took full control with a 10-7 run early in the second quarter.
They had gotten off to a dream start in the opening quarter, scoring three baskets before their opponents narrowed the gap to finish the first quarter on 8-6. Aggressive Relics' point-guard Loago Monchusi led her team's scoring while NIIT's Thuto Serati was outstanding for the students. The Relics, who were playing their first game of the season, kept piling on the pressure, but their opponents defended well, often catching them on the counter attack. If there were any doubts about Relics' collective nerve, they dismissed them, running a 16-11 point advantage midway through the second quarter. However, the students would not allow their rivals to stretch the margin, slowly clawing back into the game when the industrious Serati converted from a free-throw. NIIT went for the breather with the scores reading 16-14. They came back fired up, drawing level for the first time at 21-21 midway through the third quarter. At that stage it proved to be anyone's game, but Relics regained the lead two minutes before the end of the quarter after their point-guard Laone Magogoba connected from just inside the arc to make it 27-23.
