The Silver Ferns and Magic defender grabbed an intercept in the dying moments of the game to help her side secure a 61-57 win against the Steel - its third consecutive win to start the season.
If the Steel - which has started with three consecutive losses - can take any consolation in defeat it is that it took a piece of brilliance from a special player for a chance at victory to finally slip away.
The combined Otago-Southland team may rue a poor third quarter when it looks back at the game tape. But overall the Steel produced its best performance of the 2014 season so far.
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid was immense under the net and scored 39 goals from 41 attempts.
Some of the feeds into her from Jodi Brown and Shannon Francois were fearless.
At 1.98m, Fowler-Reid is a fantastic target, but she is more than just a tall player.
She is so strong and her ability to haul in passes with nothing more than the tip of her fingers is quite incredible.
Kopua, though, had the last say.
She anticipated the direction of a pass perfectly and charged towards it.
She deflected it away and then parried it back in court to a team-mate before it went out.
The team reversed a five-goal deficit to win by four.
The Steel made a positive start, with Rachel Rasmussen grabbing an early rebound.
The visitor led for the majority of the opening quarter but, as in other games this year, mistakes crept into the Steel's game towards the end of the period.
A loose pass from Francois sailed over Fowler-Reid.
Kopua spiked away a hesitant pass from Phillipa Finch and Ellen Halpenny picked off a back pass.
The Steel, though, fought hard to win the ball back.
Brown made an athletic poach, flicking the ball back into a team-mate before tumbling out of court.
The Magic went into the break with 17-16 lead, but the Steel responded with a five-goal run early in the second spell.
But it was not until the dying minutes of the half the Steel was able to build a buffer.
A poor pass from Jo Harten went straight to Rasmussen, and moments later the Magic shooter was again the villain when she was called for an offensive contact.
Trailing 32-27, Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald introduced Jamie-Lee Price at wing defence at the expense of Bessie Manu.
The 18-year-old, who is the daughter of former Warriors captain Steve Price, made an early impact, disrupting a possession which a team-mate mopped up.
She helped turn the game with her physical approach.
The penalty count was also starting to mount against the Steel, with goal keep Phoenix Karaka the main offender.
She is a superb athlete but picked up seven penalties in the period and 23 in all.
It was perhaps a surprise Steel coach Janine Southby did not go to her bench.
Defenders Storm Purvis and the 1.93m Erena Mikaere were waiting eagerly for some court time.
The Magic outscored the Steel 18-12 and put up eight more shots.
It was some turnaround.
Rasmussen's sister, Grace, had a great game at wing attack for the Magic and goal keep Leana de Bruin was named most valuable player, probably down to the fact she made 11 deflections - five more than anyone else.
ANZ Championship
The scores
Waikato-BoP Magic 61
Jo Harten 39 from 42, Ellen Halpenny 22/29
Southern Steel 57
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid 39/41, Jodi Brown 18/21
Quarter scores: 1st 17-16, 2nd 27-32, 3rd 45-44
