Central Pulse have had to come from behind in the third quarter to maintain their unbeaten start to the ANZ Premiership with a 54-46 win over Southern Steel at Wellington.
The result has come at a cost, with Silver Ferns midcourt Maddy Gordon carried off the court early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
Gordon had just completed a centrepass, when her foot came down on the heel of an opponent, and she dropped to the floor, writhing in agony. After several moments, she was chaired to the bench by teammates.
"It's pretty sore, but I'm keeping positive," she said. "We won't know until, I guess, tomorrow, so I'll stay positive until then."
Gordon had helped her team turn around a 27-25 halftime deficit. They grabbed the lead soon after the restart and established a buffer with five unanswered goals to take the third period 17-8.
International shooter Amelia Walmsley emerged as the leading scorer, slotting 44/51 attempts at 86 percent accuracy, but she also finished the contest clutching a calf and stretching out cramp.
The Steel, who lost English Roses star George Fisher to injury before the season began, relied heavily on rookie Grace Namana, 28, who shot 27/35 (77 percent) at the other end of the court. Silver Ferns midcourt Shannon Saunders finished with a game-leading 30 circlefeeds.
"They brought Shan back and she's made a huge difference to that Steel team," reflected Pulse captain Kelly Jackson. "She's really calmed that attacking end down.
"Defensively, we just needed to get more ball, which started happening in that second half.
"I think it's great we've been able to bring on new combos, new girls to get some time, and it shows we're still calm under that pressure."
The result makes the Pulse the first team to three wins this season, but they will be joined by the winners of Monday's showdown between two other unbeaten sides - Mainland Tactix and champions Northern Mystics.
The Pulse will visit the Mystics next Sunday, while the Steel have a chance to break their losing run, when they host Northern Stars, also winless, on Saturday.
Central Pulse 54 (Walmsley 44, Williams 9, Pelasio 1) Southern Steel 46 (Namana 27, G Heffernan 19)
