The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic let an opportunity to secure their second win of the ANZ Premiership slip away against the Northern Mystics.
Teenage Magic shooter Khiarna Williams Photo: Photosport
The Magic lead for three quarters of the game before letting the visiting Mystics back into the game in Tauranga.
The Mystics ground out a hard-fought 67-59 win.
The Magic got the strong start that's been missing in recent weeks, bolting out of the blocks to take a healthy lead after the first quarter but were slowly reeled in by the Mystics as the game progressed.
The Mystics have now moved to within one-point of the Stars at the top of the table but showed their depth of talent to patiently build into the game before hitting the lead for the first time early in the final quarter.
Magic were very good for long patches of the game but couldn't halt a rampant-running Mystics in the run home.
Experienced wing attack Grace Kara returned to the Magic starting line-up after spending three weeks on the side-line with a calf injury while the Mystics retained their familiar starting seven of recent weeks.
And it was the presence of the veteran campaigner who got the Magic away to a flyer with the leadership and poise of Kara being instrumental in getting the home side on the front foot from the outset.
A steady stream of pinpoint quick feeds into Magic shooters Caitlin Bassett and the teenaged Khiarna Williams, who were equally accurate under the hoop helped the home side slot the first three goals of the match, leaving the Mystics playing catch-up for the rest of the stanza.
The Mystics attacking link of shooter Grace Nweke and Peta Toeava worked its way into the game but with the prolific Nweke well contained by the double defensive marking of Erena Mikaere and Temalisi Fakahokotau, it was the home side who flew into the first break with a handy 19-13 lead.
Both attacking ends needed plenty of patience on the resumption as the defensive intensity lifted a notch or two. With more ball finding its way into Nweke's hands, a five-goal unanswered streak helped the Mystics chip into the deficit.
With the Mystics quick-scoring ability a constant threat, the home side did well to absorb the pressure as Bassett and Nweke dominated proceedings under the respective hoops.
Magic play-maker Chiara Semple was introduced for the final five minutes of the half as the home side held the Mystics at arms-length when holding on to a 34-30 halftime lead.
The impressive Williams returned for the home side for the second half while Georgia Tong provided defensive relief for Fakahokotau and Mikaere for spells during the third stanza but it was the Mystics who made the early inroads.
With midcourters Tayla Earle and Fa'amu Ioane adding solid defensive resistance, the Magic stumbled on occasions to turn the ball over, the Mystics pouncing as they levelled the scores up midway through the stanza.
A composed and accurate Filda Vui took over from Bailey Mes in the Mystics circle without missing a beat as the visitors threatened to slip into overdrive. However, it was the Magic who surged back in the shooting stakes despite the best intentions of smothering defensive work from Kate Burley and Sulu Fitzpatrick.
Once again, it was the Magic who kept their noses in front when leading 50-47 at the last turn.
Tactix strong in southern derby
The Mainland Tactix handed the Southern Steel a 60-50 defeat in Invercargill on Monday night - in a game in which the home side were called up on their rough play.
Tactix goalshooter Ellie Bird. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The last time the two sides met was in the opening round, when the Steel dominated to the tune of 18 goals.
But with the addition of experienced goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit into the Tactix side since then, the Mainlanders racked up their third win in a row.
Selby-Rickit's shooting partner, Ellie Bird scored 46 of her 48 attempts with 96 percent accuracy.
It took the home side almost three minutes to open their account, and although they were three goals down, they took the lead 8-7 halfway through the spell.
But the Tactix quickly reclaimed the lead and were 13-11 ahead at the first break.
The Selby-Rickit sisters found themselves in direct opposition for the first time this season - Te Huinga Reo at goal defence for the Steel and Te Paea at goal attack for the Tactix. Te Paea continued to build on her return to the court from injury as she and Kimiora Poi marshalled the Tactix attack.
Their feeding of goal shoot Bird was on the mark in the second quarter, and with Bird missing just one shot - despite taking a couple of heavy falls - the Tactix soon established a seven-goal lead.
Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit was benched for Sarahpheinna Woulf just before halftime, but with Jane Watson showing why she's leading the league in deflections, the Tactix lead expanded to eight, 31-23, before the teams headed to the changing rooms.
The Steel made some personnel changes for the start of the third quarter, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit returning to the court, and Renee Savai'inaea swapping to centre with Kate Heffernan at wing defence. Heffernan was able to made an impact on defence straight away, and the Steel had two heartening runs of three to claw back to within four.
The Steel won the third quarter 15-12, to be just five down, 43-38, going into the final phase.
The Steel caught the attention of the umpires throughout the game with four players picking up cautions and a warning for rough play.
