College A suffered its first loss of the Dunedin premier season when it was beaten 57-53 by University Albion on Saturday.
University Albion signalled its intentions with a blistering start, pulling out to a 5-2 lead before College called a timeout.
College was forced to reshuffle its defensive end when Danielle Gray went down with an ankle injury. Renaye Flockton moved from wing defence to goal defence and Lucy Robins came off the bench into wing defence.
College worked its way into the quarter, finding shooters Jamie Hume and Olivia Bates, but University Albion still held a 16-12 lead at the first break.
The second quarter saw College lift its intensity throughout the court. It forced its opponent into mistakes through pressure, and grabbed the lead for the first time two minutes before halftime, before the whistle was blown at 29-29.
Gray's return to the court in the second half helped College build a five goal lead, but it was again run down by University Albion.
Shooters Emma King and Bridget Thayer worked well in tandem, playing smart netball and passing off to each other in the circle to gain better position.
University Albion defenders Rose Spence, Lucy Gardner and Sam Hollows picked off valuable ball to help the side regain the lead.
It was a tense final quarter with neither side giving an inch, and after College again equalised early in the quarter, both sides went goal for goal.
However, University Albion showed composure under pressure, and with King shooting with confidence in the goal circle, it closed out the game.
Injured University Albion co captain Georgie McFarlane was proud of her team mates.
''Our combinations worked really well and everyone did their job. We were really patient compared to other weeks and it paid off,'' McFarlane said.
College A coach Lauren Piebenga was disappointed at her team's slow start and said her players were a bit complacent.
''We didn't underestimate Albion by any extent, but we just decided to try the long ball instead of doing the work, which was costly,'' Piebenga said.
In the cancelled game from last weekend, the Southern Magpies beat Phys Ed A 61-47 on Wednesday night. Southern Steel shooter Brooke Leaver made her first Dunedin club appearance in the second half for Phys Ed.
On Saturday, the Magpies beat Southern Tui 86-32, and Phys Ed A beat University Albion B 65-28.
By Jaimie Keay.
