The Waikato-Bay of Plenty shooter slotted the winning goal with about 10sec left on the clock to beat the Southern Steel 53-52 in Invercargill yesterday.
The visitors sent Bailey Mes, who played 76 tests for the Silver Ferns and 137 domestic games across her 13-year career, off in style.
The shooter was brought to tears as her team performed a haka at the end of her final game.
Claire Kersten stood alongside Mes, indicating she may have played her last game as well.
The Steel bench and coaching staff were on their feet the entire final quarter, willing their team on.
The boisterous Southland crowd were vocal, too, never afraid to let the umpires know if they thought their calls went the wrong way.
The southerners went oh, so close to notching a first win of the season.
But the Steel became the first team to go through the ANZ Premiership without picking up a win.
There was plenty to be proud of yesterday, though.
Kate Heffernan was in the thick of everything for the Steel, dogged on defence and calm on attack.
It was a strong defensive start from the Steel, with Sam Winders picking the pocket from the first centre pass.
That was followed by a Kate Burley tip at the top and midcourt zone pressure, helping the home side go up 5-1.
Once the Magic settled its attack line punched through and the experience of Ekenasio stood up to take the lead.
It was a frantic and, at times, a messy start from both sides desperate to secure a final-game win.
In a bizarre moment, Magic defender Erena Mikaere scored an "own goal" when trying to tip the ball back in court.
But it did not affect her side, which took a 13-12 lead at the first quarter.
The Steel was dominant in defence in the second quarter, flooding the middle channel, making it hard for the Magic to get flow.
Kate Heffernan and Winders were pests out the front. Heffernan took an early intercept early and Winders picked the pocket again and flung the ball back in to her team, igniting a roar from the Southland crowd.
Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit took a rebound and the safe hands of Saviour Tui put the Steel up by four.
Kersten was dynamic bringing the ball down the court for the Magic, and helped the visitors claw back the deficit.
The home side withstood the comeback to lead 25-24 at halftime.
It was a tense third quarter, much of it running goal for goal.
A positional switch between Mes and Ekenasio opened up the Magic’s attack end and an entry into the circle started to open up more.
The Steel went on a mini-run early, but the Magic hunted it down.
The Magic had the better of the quarter, winning 17-14 and went up by two at the break.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 53
Bailey Mes 23/27, Ameliaranne Ekenasio 30/32
Southern Steel 52
Saviour Tui 41/46, Georgia Heffernan 11/14
Quarter scores: 13-12, 24-25, 41-39
