The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women had to face Knox without star playmaker Sherrie Calleia due to an ongoing shoulder injury on Saturday night.

But Calleia joined her team mates on the sidelines in special warmup tops raising awareness against domestic violence in the White Ribbon Round of the 2022 NBL1 South season.

Having the home court advantage the Pioneers were away early after Cassandra Brown found the net in the opening minute.

The Knox Raiders led by Alicia Froling, Leah Santomggio, Kiara Wischer and Lucy Dawson worked hard around the court to take the lead from the Mount Gambier side and go to the first change with a buffer of eight points.

In to the second quarter the Raiders flew past the OneFortyOne Pioneers with Racheal Quirk, Froling, and Sara Hamson doing all the scoring.

Mount Gambier was struggling with the scoreboard reading 22-35, but the hosts found another gear through Jasmin Howe, Shakera Reilly, Hannah Young, Brown and Haliegh Reinoehl.

The remarkable comeback was complete when Brown sunk a three to steal the lead, but a Sara Hamson double play ensured Knox headed into the main break in front.

Thanks to Reilly, the Pioneers were able to wrestle back the advantage in the early minutes of the third term, but Kara Tessari’s efforts ensured the Raiders always had a response.

The lead changed hands multiple times during a tight third term.

The Pioneers held the lead for two minutes of play until Froling of the Raiders evened up it again with three minutes of play left in the term.

But soon the presence of Froling was too strong and her basket setup by a Dawson steal gave Knox a lead it was determined not to give up.

Young, Reilly and Howe worked hard across all parts of the court, but it was not enough to stop Wischer, Tessari, Hamson and Froling to help the Raiders take a small lead of four points into the final break.

Although it was make or break for the home-based team, Knox put the first score on the board to extend the lead within seconds of play resuming.

The Raiders had all the play in the final term and were on fire making baskets from everywhere when the opportunity arose with Wischer, Hamson and Tessari being focal points.

But Froling was the star, with her height and skill pushing the Pioneers all night collecting an impressive total of 27 points and 18 rebounds.

Although the Pioneers remained in the hunt towards the end, the home crowd was silenced as Knox left the Icehouse delighted with a 7 point win.