Otago is back on track but will need to keep improving if it is to qualify for the national championship semifinals.
After home losses to Auckland and Southland, Otago discovered some form on the road to beat Western 59-48 in Palmerston North on Saturday night.
Otago controlled the game from the opening quarter and withstood a couple of Western scoring runs to post its first win in the competition.
Coach Nicola Jones was pleased with her side's performance and the much-needed win.
"It was a really torrid, very physical match," Jones said from Palmerston North yesterday.
"We tried to out-skill Western, to keep everything really sharp and stay strong on the ball."
Jones started Louise Thayer and Sarah Lansdown in defence, Hayley Saunders, Debbie Hill and Kate Shearer through the mid-court, and Jodi Brown and Jo Morrison in the shooting circle.
Emma Moynihan, who had not trained during the week because of a niggling injury, replaced Lansdown in the second quarter.
Jones said Brown, who had been struggling at the start of the season with a thigh injury, and Morrison worked well together.
The pair dished out nice offloads to each other and Brown used space well to create scoring opportunities.
Jones was also impressed with the strong driving play and distribution of rising wing attack Kate Shearer.
She was less pleased with two periods, particularly one late in the game, when Western was allowed to get on a roll.
"We were leading quite comfortably late in the game but let them get away a bit.
I think they won the last five minutes 9-1 or something like that.
"It's up to us to adapt a bit quicker when that sort of thing happens."
Otago faces a tricky game against North in Auckland this week, and Jones knows Otago must keep improving to seal a place in the top four at the national finals in Invercargill.
"Realistically, we need to keep winning to ensure our sport in the top group.
"We don't want to have to rely on other results.
"The girls have really stepped up. It was a massive lift this week. We're controlling more ball and working really hard, so I'm feeling pretty happy."
Southland and Auckland were the other first division winners at the weekend.
Southland beat North 45-39 and Auckland thrashed Canterbury 68-40.
