Earlier, the 2010 and 2011 champion had wins against the Harbour Breeze and the Rotorua Lady Vols, but was undone by a talented Waikato team on Saturday.
Otago coach Brent Matehaere was satisfied with his side's return of three wins from four games.
The tournament involves nine teams, each playing eight games, in two qualifying tournaments before the finals series in Porirua in June.
The top six teams will contest the finals.
Four wins will probably be enough to secure a berth. Otago fell short of that target but has four games remaining to qualify, and showed enough to suggest it will be involved at the business end of the tournament.
''The first goal is to make the playoffs,'' Matehaere said.
''We have not made that cut yet. I think we will need four wins as a minimum to be safe, but we have at least put ourselves in a good position to do that by having the three wins here at this tournament.''
Five players got into double figures in the 31-point romp against Taranaki. American forward Kali Bennett top-scored with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Samara Gallaher was excellent with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Kelly Groot and Morgan Hunter scored 12 points apiece, and dual basketball and cricket international Suzie Bates chipped in with 11 points.
Matehaere said the team lacked polish but showed improvement and would get better with more time together.
Bates is returning after a year away to focus on her cricket commitments, and Bennett is new to the squad and to how the game is officiated in New Zealand.
The team saved its best performance for last.
''It was just a nice way to finish the weekend. It would have be a great result to get four wins but this was a good learning experience.''
The Goldrush will lean on Bennett, Bates and Gallaher to do the bulk of the scoring and create play, but there is some real depth, with experienced players such as Janet Main and Danielle Calnan and talented guard Morgan Hunter.
Development player Aleisha Ruske gave a good account of herself in her first outing for the Goldrush.
