The Southern Steel wing attack leapt high and picked up an intercept on the transverse line and took off down the court.
That gave the Steel a mini three-point lead in what had been an arm wrestle against the winless Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Tauranga.
Kimiora Poi got a hand in the way to pick up a tip and Carys Stythe rejected Kate Taylor’s shot as the tide began to change.
It opened up the game for the Steel, who jumped out to a seven-point lead and forged ahead to win 61-48 on Saturday and seal top spot on the ANZ Premiership ladder.
The Steel have now won four on the bounce for the first time since July 2021, and feel as though they are building to their full potential.
They use the first quarter to scope out games and lay the platform and take off in the second.
It has become somewhat of a specialty for the Steel, having not lost a second quarter since round one; the Southern side have kept three teams to single figures in the second spell in that period.
That transpired against the Magic too, when the Steel won the second quarter 17-9.
It was goal-for-goal in a relatively laboured opening quarter.
Georgie Edgecombe plucked the ball over the top of Kimiora Poi in the pocket and raced off down court.
The Magic’s young attack end — who were without Saviour Tui — snatched a two-point lead with six minutes left.
Sarah Guiney started at goal attack, with Kate Taylor at the back, and provided something different for the Magic attack end.
Their defensive unit held up the Steel’s transition to finish 14-14.
Then the Steel put their foot down, as they so often have once they get the lead, and never let go.
They picked up quick ball and found better flow to go on a five-goal unanswered run midway through the second.
The Magic, who had made a much better start than their previous games, started to crumble as the Steel’s full court effort ramped up, giving the visitors a 31-23 lead at halftime.
Aliyah Dunn, who shot 40 from 41, had a good tussle with veteran defender Erena Mikaere at the back.
Georgia Heffernan’s entry to the circle pulled defenders off Dunn, allowing her to use her foot work on the base.
Poi continued to show what a big engine she has and was the glue for the Steel through the middle and put in some great feeds.
The Steel led 49-38 at the break thanks to a Heffernan two-pointer on the buzzer.
The Steel’s defensive work across the court was strong, picking up a massive 22 deflections.
Stythe made life hard for the Magic attackers with six gains and made their feeders second-guess their placement into the circle.
It forced the Magic into mistakes and they struggled to get themselves going.
Guiney had a strong game at goal attack and Edgecombe continued to show why she is one of the most exciting prospects in the Magic this season.
The Northern Mystics were too strong for the Central Pulse, pulling away in the second half to win 55-47 on Saturday.
The Mainland Tactix held on to beat the Northern Stars 52-50 in Christchurch on Sunday. The Tactix now sit second on the table, followed by the Mystics on goal percentage.
