The Steel produced its best effort of the season but slipped to an eighth consecutive loss in the ANZ Premiership on Saturday night.
This time it was the Stars meting out the heartbreak — a 49-47 defeat in Auckland.
Saviour Tui made a huge impact in her return from a rolled ankle. The Steel shooter landed 28 of her 31 attempts.
But the visitors lacked composure during the final frantic moments and that cost them the game.
The Southerners are shackled to the bottom of the standings with a couple of bonus points.
There will not be too much time to dwell on the latest disappointment. They play the Pulse in Wellington tonight, who edged the Mystics 55-53 in Auckland at the weekend.
The Stars thumped the Steel 74-40 the last time the two teams met, so Steel coach Reinga Bloxham was pleased with the progress and fight her side showed.
"I feel quite gutted actually because it was in our grasp and we let it go," she said.
"In one sense I’m gutted but in the other sense I’m proud of the way they performed for most of that game. Getting closer, but not quite there."
The Stars made a positive impression immediately. Maia Wilson (32 from 37) scored the opening goal of the game in under 10 seconds. The visiting defence was caught napping there.
The Stars were coming off back-to-back heavy losses and needed a win to stay in touch.
But the Steel rallied quickly. It had won just three quarters all season and was fighting hard to make that four.
Defender Kate Burley showed desperation to hook a ball back in court. But Steel shooter Eseta Autagavaia could not convert at the other end and the Stars nursed a 12-10 lead at the break.
The Steel put up three more shots in the period but accuracy under the net cost them.
The Stars extended their lead with a five-goal run midway through the period. They were more patient getting the ball into the circle and had stretched out to 27-22 at halftime.
The Heffernan twins were not holding back. Kate, and her long limbs, picked up a couple of intercepts, and Georgia was battling hard in the shooting circle.
Tui, who had entered the game in the second period, drilled a series of goals early in the third quarter to help the Steel level the score 30-30.
"She did make an impact and it was great that she was able to come on and make a difference like that," Bloxham said.
"And that is exactly what you want when someone comes off the bench."
But Jamie Hume dropped the ball in from deep in the circle to help claw back some momentum for the home team.
Kelera Nawai-Caucau got a valuable tip down the other end and most of the hard work was undone just like that.
But the Steel rallied again and outscored their opponents 14-12 to close the gap to 39-36 with 15 minutes remaining.
A crucial intercept from Kate Heffernan and some tenacious defending from Burley saw the Steel take a late lead.
But the team succumbed to the pressure and had to settle for a close second.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Stars 49
Maia Wilson 32/37, Amorangi Malesala 13/15)
Steel 47
Saviour Tui 28/31, Georgia Heffernan 14/17
Quarterscores: 12-10, 27-22 (15-12), 39-36 (12-14), 49-47 (10-11)
