The Southern Steel dismantled the Mainland Tactix in Invercargill on Saturday, but will face a much sterner test against the West Coast Fever in Perth this weekend.
On the back of a stout defensive effort - particularly from Phoenix Karaka and Storm Purvis - the Steel bounced back from last week's 68-62 loss to the New South Wales Swifts in emphatic fashion in front of 2000 people at ILT Stadium.
The 14 point win was the Southern franchise's fifth straight against the Tactix, and the 12th in 15 games since the competition launched in 2008.
Karaka and Purvis set the tone early, shadowing Tactix shooters Mwai Kumwenda and Gemma Hazeldine, while captain Wendy Frew shone at wing defence. The Steel never trailed in the match, enjoyed a double digit lead for large periods, and led by as many as 18 goals in the fourth quarter.
Karaka finished the match with four intercepts and seven deflections, while Purvis had one steal and seven deflections.
Despite the strong performance, Karaka felt her combination with Purvis was yet to reach the heights it did at the end of last season.
''We have always had quite a strong combination,'' Karaka said.`'I think it's growing for our second game out, but we are still trying to be as strong as we were at the end of last season.
''There's still more to gain from trainings. Otherwise, it's started stronger than what I thought we would.''
Leading 51-40 with a quarter to go, the Steel all but had the game in the bag. Instead of taking the foot off the gas, it blew the game open to lead 61-44 early in the final quarter to seal the derby.
Goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler Reid became the Steel's all time leading scorer just three minutes into the game, notching her 1248th goal for the side in just her 28th match to surpass Daneka Wipiiti.
Trailing 16-11 after the first quarter, the Tactix replaced goal attack Gemma Hazeldine with Bailey Mes in an attempt to find more space against Karaka and Purvis.
However, the Steel scored the first three goals of the second quarter, before Tactix defender Jessica Moulds made a couple of big defensive plays to help her side again pull to within five.
The home side raced out to a double digit lead a few minutes later, after scoring five straight on the back of Karaka and Purvis intercepts.
After leaving her starters to play the entire first game last week, Steel coach Janine Southby finally went to her bench to start the second half.
Goal attack Sophia Fenwick, who spent the past three years with the Tactix, replaced Te Paea Selby Rickit, who again combined fluently with Fowler Reid in the circle.
Fenwick had a shaky start, missing her first five shots and allowing the Tactix to go on a 6-0 run and close the deficit to 40-36 midway through the third quarter. But Karaka intercepted a Mes pass intended for Kumwenda to rebuff the Tactix rally and swing momentum back the way of the home side.
Jane Watson, who also spent the past three seasons with the Tactix, made her first appearance for the Steel when she replaced Karaka late in the third quarter. Stacey Peeters came on for Shannon Francois in the final quarter, slotting in at wing defence and allowing Frew to take over at centre.
After picking up the first win of the season, Southby was full of praise for her defence but said the offence did not quite click.
''Attacking wise, I thought we didn't have the same connections in play that we had last week, so that's certainly something we need to look at.
''But at the end of the day, we did enough to get that win.''
In addition to singling out Karaka and Purvis for their performances, Southby was pleased with Peeters and Watson off the bench.
After two home games to start the season, the Steel is now embracing the challenge of winning in Perth ahead of its round four bye.
ANZ Championship
The scores
Southern Steel 68
Jhaniele Fowler Reid 56/60, Te Paea Selby Rickit 8/11, Sophia Fenwick 4/11
Mainland Tactix 54
Mwai Kumwenda 34/38, Bailey Mes 17/24, Gemma Hazeldine 3/5
Quarter scores: 1st, 16-11; 2nd, 32-25; 3rd, 51-40.
