The WNBL will have a new champion with the Townsville Fire disappearing from contention with two rounds remaining.
A disappointing title defence for the Fire was highlighted by their 77-72 home loss to the Dandenong Rangers, failing again to unearth the attack that carried them last season to a third crown.
Townsville slipped to 7-11, having fallen short in a spirited late comeback when veteran guard Micaela Cocks missed a three-point shot which might have sent the game to overtime in her 200th appearance.
Laurin Mincy was Dandenong's best performer, with her 18-point haul ensuring their slim playoff hopes remained alive.
The Rangers (9-10) are the only team still with a chance of busting into the top four after Sunday's 85-60 thumping of the last-placed Sydney Flames.
They'll need to win their last two games to have any chance of catching the fourth-placed Adelaide Lightning (11-7), while the Canberra Capitals, Melbourne Boomers (both 13-5) and Perth Lynx (12-7) are all guaranteed post-season action.
Canberra are the in-form side, having won six on the trot and none of them by less than 28 points, including a 102-62 home hammering of Bendigo on Friday to seal the Spirit's fate.
Captain Kelsey Griffin was again the Capitals stand-out, the Boomers' forward registering 27 points and 10 rebounds to maintain her league-leading numbers in both departments.
Melbourne's only game was a tense 64-59 win over Perth, set up by their defence. Last year's beaten finalists reduced the acclaimed Lynx attack to just 33 per cent accuracy from the field.
Perth bounced back to pip Bendigo 68-66, spearheaded by Asia Taylor's 20 points and eight rebounds.
