The Southern Magpies' unbeaten streak ended with a 55-53 loss to Phys Ed A in the Dunedin premier competition on Saturday.
The result sends the message there is a new team to fear, after Phys Ed's efforts in beating last year's champion and runner-up in the opening two rounds of the season.
Phys Ed pounced in the first quarter, scoring five consecutive goals to take an early lead.
However, the Magpies clawed their way back into the game to trail 16-14 at quarter-time.
It was an arm-wrestle between the sides, Phys Ed constantly extending the lead, only for Southern to draw it back to a two-goal margin.
The third quarter saw Phys Ed extend the lead to eight, with the players connecting well down the court and clearing the ball with long, direct passes.
Phys Ed centre Lucy Heenan and goal shoot Jo Morrison found good space in the shooting circle through a series of fakes and holds.
At the other end, Southern struggled at times to penetrate the circle edge, competing with the strong defensive duo of Libby Drake and Rebecca Purvis.
Phys Ed's defensive end took a blow at the end of the third quarter when captain Purvis called injury time and was taken off.
Ahead 46-38 at the three-quarter mark, Phys Ed was in a good position, though Southern's experience meant it was still anyone's game.
Changes were made to both sides in the midcourt and the intensity rose as Southern made an impressive comeback, closing the margin to just two goals.
But Phys Ed held its composure and fought off the defending champion to take the game.
Phys Ed A coach Alice Conrad was impressed with her players' ''all-round team effort'', with every player on court doing her job.
In other premier games, University-Albion beat Southern Tui 64-59, College A beat South Otago High School 62-33, and College A thumped University-Albion 64-33.
By Bridget Rutherford.
