Attack, attack, attack.
You might have thought the Steel had adopted that mantra this season but coach Janine Southby insists her side is focused on stopping goals as well as scoring them.
The Steel snapped an 11-game losing streak in the ANZ Championship with a record 75-56 win against the Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch on Saturday.
The game was memorable for a remarkable individual haul from new Steel recruit Jhaniele Fowler. The 1.98m Jamaican was unstoppable, amassing 65 goals from 70 attempts.
The Tactix were powerless to prevent the international popping the ball through the hoop and she broke the competition record for the most goals scored in a game by a individual. The previous mark of 58 was held jointly by fellow Jamaicans Romelda Aiken and Carla Borrego.
The Steel's total of 75 was its highest score, surpassing the 66 goals it scored against the Tactix in 2010.
The Melbourne Vixens scored 80 goals against the Central Pulse in 2009 and that remained the highest team score in the history of the competition until matched yesterday by the West Coast Fever against the Northern Mystics.
While Southby was thrilled with her side's efforts on attack, she is well aware much tougher defence than the Tactix could muster awaits the Steel in its next assignment against the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Dunedin on Saturday.
''We have a really tough game next week but we are going to enjoy this win first,'' she said.
''I think this gives the girls the confidence that they know they can do it. We didn't just win by one or two goals - it was quite a good score in the end.
''We'll go back and look at this game, and certainly from a defensive perspective, there is some stuff we need to tidy up. We know we are coming up against a team with another Jamaican shooter in it, who is equally as dangerous as Jhaniele. We'll have to look at ways to shut her [Borrego] down.''
While Fowler was simply superb, she had excellent service from goal attack Jodi Brown and centre Phillipa Finch. The pair combined for 43 assists and orchestrated the play in the midcourt.
Brown had every right to move into the shooting circle and put up a few shots, but the Silver Fern hung back and unselfishly fed Fowler.
Finch was busy as well and was perhaps one of the unsung heroes.
Defensively, the Steel struggled but improved as the match went on.
The scores were level 36-36 at halftime. Southby encouraged her side to stay positive and the Steel emerged from the break to outscore the Tactix 21-11 and take a 10-goal lead into the final quarter.
Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, who replaced Storm Purvis at goal keep at halftime, was more effective and helped the Steel restrict the Tactix to 20 goals in the second half.
The last quarter was one-sided with the Steel stretching its lead to 19 goals - its fourth-largest winning margin against any team.
Brown limped off with 4min remaining but Southby said it was a precautionary move.
''She was a bit tight during the game, so we decided to take her off when we got the opportunity. I don't think it is serious. I'm confident she'll be back out there next week.''
ANZ Championship
The scores
Southern Steel 75
Jhaniele Fowler 65 from 70, Jodi Brown 10/11
Canterbury Tactix 56
Jo Harten 29/37, Sophia Fenwick 28/33, Julianna Naoupu 1/1
Quarter 20-18, halftime 36-36, third quarter 57-47
