The Southern Steel have slipped back to earth after the heights of last week, losing 60-54 against the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Invercargill this afternoon.
The Steel shared bottom place in last season's ANZ Championship with the Canterbury Tactix, but last week earned a rare victory against their southern neighbours.
That win broke an 11-match losing run but the Steel were unable to back it up today, dropping their record to one win and two losses in the new campaign.
The hosts held a five-goal lead at the first break, but the Thunderbirds came roaring back with a dominant second quarter in which they restricted the Steel to just eight goals.
The Steel slowly chipped away at Adelaide's eight-goal halftime lead but could never quite close the full distance, eventually falling by six goals.
