Central Pulse signed off their trans-Tasman league campaign with a tight loss to 2009 champions Melbourne Vixens here tonight.
The 48-49 result marked the Pulse's 12th loss in 13 matches this season and did nothing to alter the standings ahead of the playoffs starting at the weekend.
The Pulse remain in ninth place - above the last-placed Canterbury Tactix on goal differential - and Melbourne seventh.
The visitors's extra experience told in the final quarter when they separated themselves from the Pulse after the scores were locked at 35-35 after three periods.
They cleared out to 47-43 before the Pulse hunted them down in the last minute, an intercept from defender Katrina Grant enabling them to draw to 48-49 before an opportunity to level it up went begging when goal shoot Jane Altschwager could not drag in a loose pass into the circle.
The Pulse had had the better of the first half as they established a 24-20 lead by the main break, with goal attack Paul Griffin accounting for 17 of her side's goals.
Goal shoot Jamilah Gupwell was kept quiet, slotting just seven from 12 attempts during this period as Melbourne's new 17-year-old goal keep Micaela Wilson made a fine job of stepping up to this level for the first time.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie responded by replacing Gupwell for the third quarter with team captain Altschwager, who had been benched for recent matches.
The Vixens also traded goal shoot Kathleen Knott for Caitlin Thwaites at the same time and this switch paid immediate dividends as Thwaites slotted her first six shots to help the visitors draw level then edge in front at 32-30 through the period.
Thwaites ended with a perfect 13-from-13 and it was the Vixen's superior accuracy under the hoop which tipped the match their way, with their shooting percentage of 86 percent well above the Pulse's 76 percent.
