It gave up a seven-goal deficit early but was still able to run away with a 66-46 win over the Northern Mystics at the ANZ Premiership's second Super Sunday in Invercargill yesterday.
It was the first time the team had failed to reach 70 goals this season, but it was dominant all the same and one of its best defensive efforts.
Perhaps the most telling statistic was the Mystics' 62 goal attempts, 19 fewer than the Steel's and four fewer than the Steel scored.
''[I'm] really happy with the way our defensive unit is working,'' Steel coach Reinga Bloxham said.
''Each game they're getting stronger and stronger and the good thing is they hold each other accountable and they're always trying to think what can I do to make each other better.''
The Steel trailed 8-1 early after the Mystics cashed in on three turnovers.
However it was able to fight back to lead 16-12 at the break, extending that to 32-21 at halftime.
It was a killer period for a Mystics team which never really recovered.
The Steel's defensive intensity lifted and the attack was able to find its shooters close to the hoop, as it scored 31 goals in the time it took the Mystics to net 13. That included just nine in the second quarter.
It was an impressive effort from the Steel, given it was going up against the Silver Ferns shooting duo of Bailey Mes and Maria Tutaia.
The Steel had missed just one shot in the first quarter, ensuring that while it was at times sloppy, it made the most of the ball it had.
''It was a bit of a rocky start really, but pleased with the way they finished the first quarter and it was nice again to see the younger players out on the court,'' Bloxham said.
''I think there was just a few personal errors and misconnections right at the beginning.
''We've been talking a lot about doing your own job, so I think they just connected and made sure they were doing their part in the unit.
''Once they did and we got a few goals we pushed ahead.''
Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit came up with two intercepts early in the third quarter, allowing the Steel stretch the lead even further to 37-24.
It set the tone for a dominant quarter, as Selby-Rickit's defensive partner, Jane Watson, proved equally disruptive.
The Steel held the Mystics to 11 in that quarter, while at the other end the Southern side was as good as it had been the whole game. It poured in 19 goals to get out to a 51-32 lead.
The fourth quarter saw more of the same, as the Steel cracked 60 with 10 minutes to go,
A messy finish saw it held to 66, but the game was well and truly over by that stage.
The Steel remains unbeaten at the top of the table, with a chance to extend that lead against the Central Pulse tonight.
The Pulse comes off a 50-49 loss to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in yesterday's early game.
In the late game yesterday, Northern Stars beat the Mainland Tactics, 59-44.
Meanwhile, the South Beko League team was beaten 65-51 by Central in Invercargill.
After falling behind in the first quarter, it went down 22-12 in the second quarter, to leave it trailing 36-23 at halftime.
South rebounded and was able to win the fourth quarter 17-14, but it was too much for it to come back to win.
