Northern Mystics absorbed three quarters of intense pressure from Central Pulse before charging away in the final spell for a 49-44 trans-Tasman netball victory in Auckland on Monday.
The win, their second of the season, edges them back to the top of the New Zealand conference, one point clear of Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
Slick work from the first whistle gave the Mystics an early 8-3 lead with goal attack Maria Tutaia shouldering a hefty workload further up the court from the centre pass.
That freed up midcourters Laura Langman and Millie Lees for their drive to the circle edge, and the feed into Cathrine Latu was sharp and well-placed.
The Pulse took time to settle in the midcourt, but gradually found their rhythm and started converting the turnover ball as some solid circle defence was generating.
Skipper Katrina Grant led the way with some spectacular intercepts, but English international Ama Agbeze's excellent timing made her equally disruptive as the Pulse took a narrow 13-12 lead into the first break.
Both teams boasted Silver Ferns shooting combinations; the Pulse were running with newcomer Ameliaranne Wells at goal attack and Jodi Brown at the back while the Mystics fielded a tried-and-tested pairing in Tutaia and Latu.
Latu and Tutaia proved the more accurate, missing just three of their 25 attempts in the first 30 minutes, but while Brown and Wells were less precise in missing six, they were receiving more ball - enough to give the Pulse a 25-22 lead at halftime.
Mystics coach Debbie Fuller tweaked her defensive circle at the break, replacing Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick with youngster Temalisi Fakahokotau.
The Silver Ferns goal keep's quick hands and feet, and impeccable timing on the intercept proved productive, but although the Mystics won the third quarter 10-9, the Pulse took a 34-32 lead into the final spell.
But the home team controlled the final 15 minutes superbly, mixing a smothering midcourt defensive zone with pinpoint shooting accuracy to outscore the Pulse 17-10 and win the match 49-44.
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