Last year's finalists have got their seasons off to winning starts in Dunedin women's club basketball.
Defending champion South Pacific Magic claimed a 73-36 win over the Andy Bay Falcons, while a fast start saw Ajax beat Varsity 56-49.
Ajax held Varsity to just four first-quarter points as captain Natalie Smith scored the team's first seven.
That helped it open a 12-4 lead, but Varsity was able to hold the deficit through the second quarter.
Jeanie Pattison and Estelle Schuler scored all but one of Varsity's second-quarter points, while Smith added six of Ajax's 14, taking the score to 26-18.
Sisters Nicole and Aleisha Ruske helped keep Ajax in front as a big third quarter from Varsity saw it eat into the deficit and trail 43-39 at the final break.
It was unable to complete the comeback, though, as the Ruskes and Smith scored all of Ajax's fourth-quarter points to see it through.
Smith top-scored for Ajax with 20 points, while Aleisha and Nicole Ruske had 16 and 15 respectively.
Pattison led the way for Varsity with 17.
Meanwhile the Magic was similarly dominant from the outset, piling on a 21-5 first-quarter lead against the Falcons.
A better second quarter from the Falcons saw the Magic's lead extend by only five, before the defending champion pulled away with a dominant second half.
Natalie Visger top-scored for the Magic with 13 points, while Kirsty Currie chipped in with 11 and Georgia Te Au and Sophie Johns added 10 each.
Jenna Small had 11 to top-score for the Falcons.
