Twenty-twenty beaten finalists, the Mainland Tactix remain winless after three rounds of the ANZ netball Premiership - going down 53-52 to the Northern Mystics in Auckland.
The Christchurch-based Tactix entered the campaign as tournament favourites, but have stuttered through the opening three weeks of the season, unable to find a winning formula.
Mystics shooter Grace Nweke reeled in a long lob-pass from wing-attack Peta Toeava, before slotting the ball as the clock clicked down to zero.
The shining light for the winless red and blacks was the return of goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickett from an ankle injury.
The Silver Ferns star played the final three quarters, helping turn around a seven-point first-quarter deficit.
Selby-Rickett was expected to play only half-a-game, but lasted 45 minutes, as the Tactix at least notched a bonus point for winning the second quarter.
Nweke shot 88 percent for the Mystics, while Ellie Bird sunk 87 percent of her shots for the Tactix.
The Northern Stars are the only unbeaten team after three rounds and top the table from the Mystics, Steel, Pulse, Magic and Tactix.
