The Steel has a double-header this week and will need to shake off its 57-37 loss to the Central Pulse in Wellington on Saturday.
It was a much-improved performance from its first-round 64-38 loss to the Northern Mystics but there is still plenty of work to do.
The scoreline blew out in the end but there were patches of beauty from the Steel, in what was captain Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit’s 200th domestic game.
But those moments were tempered with basic errors and a struggle to finish off the pass into the circle, failing to capitalise on any defensive gains.
Coach Reinga Bloxham felt her side was better but a couple of missed shots and being unable to execute at key moments put the Steel on the back foot.
"Even though we only scored 37 goals I think it was a definite improvement from last week’s game and a step forward," Bloxham said.
The Steel had a better start, treasuring the ball and played with good length and width on attack.
Once the Pulse players found their feet, their ball speed and quick transitions through court were deadly.
Georgia Heffernan and Jess Allan teamed up in the shooting circle and were not afraid to play the ball around to get closer to the post.
But the long levers of Kelly Jury proved to be a nuisance, finishing with five intercepts, seven deflections and five rebounds for the game.
The Pulse led at the break and pushed out to a 22-11 lead early in the second quarter.
The Steel mounted its comeback and when it played with speed and was direct, it gave itself more opportunities.
"I actually thought our attack end had a lot more cohesion than they did the other day. They looked a lot more connected.
"It was just some of the finishing things... that we didn’t quite nail at times that we really needed too that would have made a difference," Bloxham said.
Kate Burley looked settled at goal keep, using her footwork to roll around Amelia Walmsley, snatching some great intercepts.
The Pulse midcourt had too much room to move, something Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness exploited.
Walmsley picked up where she left off last week and took her team to a 27-16 lead at halftime.
A positional switch with Georgia Heffernan moving back to goal shoot opened the circle up slightly more.
She did a power of work on attack for her side, finishing with 90% accuracy.
"She played very well - she shot really well.
"She stepped up when she needed to and against some pretty tough defence down in that circle. I think she should be pretty proud of the performance that she put out on court."
It was a messy second half from both teams, but the Pulse continued its onslaught.
Wing defence Fa’amu Ioane punched on to the ball, bringing it through court, Souness put in sublime long feeds, Tiana Metuarau was the master in her attack line, and Kristiana Manu’a was dogged in the defensive circle.
Bloxham said the Steel needed to tidy up its decision-making under pressure and fatigue ahead of the Stars tonight.
There was a lack of depth and experience in the shooting end, but the younger players were doing their best on court and continued to grow with each game.
ANZ Premiership
The scores
Central Pulse 57
Amelia Walmsley 42/45, Tiana Metuarau 13/15, Joyce Mvula 2/3.
Southern Steel 37
Jess Allan 13/22, Georgia Heffernan 20/22, Meleitia Tatupu 4/7
Quarter scores: 13-8, 27-16, 40-28, 57-37.
