Some stellar three point shooting from 17 year old Nicole Romeo helped Norwood end Sturt's season at Pasadena this evening.

A 22-9 first quarter triggered by the Flames' blistering transition offence helped set up the win, though Sturt were still in the game until the final seconds.

In a game in which the Adelaide Lightning's Angela Marino played limited minutes due to an ankle injury, Norwood moved the ball as they had all season - quickly. Lisa Scaglia, whose first step is one of the quickest in the league, started the quarter with a drive for a layup, then a dazzling backturn by Romeo produced a three for Carly Stark. Sturt attempted to exploit its height advantage, but an attempted high-low seal from Hannah Bowley to Monique Bowley resulted in a turnover, though Hannah made amends the next play by drawing a charge. Brigid Bowley hit the first of a number of turnaround jump shots from the edge of the key, but Sturt were unable to make the most of mismatches, while at the other end, Norwood repeatedly penetrated into the key and fed open shooters.

Sturt started the second quarter in a 3-2 zone, but still couldn't stop Norwood's momentum. The Sabres were struggling to contain penetration and when Romeo went 1 on 5 for a layup, the score was 30-12 and the Norwood faithful was on its feet.

That's when the Flames fun ended. The next 7 minutes provided more contrast than the haircuts of Emily Fryters and Benn McDonald.

Marino started the surge with her first points - a three pointer. Brigid Bowley came up with a huge block which triggered a Norwood time out. Immediately after the break, a lob pass to Hannah Bowley was successful, and when Romeo's dazzling around the back move went unrewarded, the momentum had swung. Kate Jolly hit two threes, Marino hit a 20' jumper after a brief rest and when a Sabre full court trap forced a turnover, Sturt had amassed a 19-3 run to be within 2 at half time.

Norwood started the third quarter like the first and broke away, albeit on a smaller scale. Sturt struggled to shoot from the perimeter, on their way to 4 of 24 threes for the game. Norwood continued to defend the post well, and went into the Ã,¾ time break up by 7.

A Sturt run was inevitable - the question was, would it be enough? With a minute to go it looked like it wouldn't be, but 42 seconds later, Sturt was down 2 with possession of the ball, and faced with the classic coaching conundrum - to shoot a 3 or a 2?

As it turned out, neither eventuated. A foot on the sideline ended Sturt's chances, and a Norwood foul shot sealed a 65-62 victory.

Romeo was the best for Norwood. Her 22 points came at 50% and included 4 of 6 from the three point line. Jess Smart had a great second quarter and finished the game with 14 points, and Emily Fryters 8 rebounds were as valuable as her 40 minutes of post defence.

Angela Marino top scored for Sturt with 14, but could not seem to get into a rhythm. Kate Jolly's season high 12 points were valuable, as were Hannah Bowley's 14 rebounds.

Minor premiers Sturt would be bitterly disappointed to go out in two games, the team clearly affected by a three week break prior to playing its two toughest opponents. Norwood enters its first Grand Final in 7 years as underdogs, but a round 13 win over West would give the exciting Flames enough hope to make for an entertaining game.

(And for all you literature boffins taking issue with the headline, everyone knows Romeo was poisoned rather than shot (though his gun was used to kill Juliet in the film adaptation - good enough?)