Trailing by six goals at the first break, and by as many as nine early on in the second spell, it looked as though the third test was going to go much the same way as the first two matches - convincing wins to the Diamonds.
But a host of changes to the Diamonds attack end in the second half worked to disrupt Australia's momentum, and the Ferns seized the advantage. Australian coach Lisa Alexander opted to bench the 1.93m Bassett - a key target in the back for the Diamonds - in the second half, as she looked to build depth in her squad.
Bassett's replacement, Caitlin Thwaites, struggled to assert herself on the proceedings, with Kopua and Katrina Grant doing a good job of disrupting the connections in the Australian attack end to force further changes to the opposition line-up heading into the final quarter having leveled the score at 36-all.
Guilty of dropping their intensity in the late stages of the opening two tests, the Ferns did not make the same mistake yesterday, maintaining their composure down the home stretch to secure a three-goal victory.
Kopua, who is tipped to retire at the end of the season, was delighted to bring up her 100th test with a win over their transtasman rivals - something that has become increasingly rare of late.
"Something like that is usually a jinx, or on us it seems to be. I'll certainly never forget this test," she said.
"I think to keep the composure and the changes that they put up against us I think we coped really well."
Asked what the difference was in her side's performance yesterday, out-going New Zealand coach Waimarama Taumaunu was realistic.
"Bassett not on the court," she said.
But Taumaunu said she was pleased with the way her side held their nerve in the pressure-filled final minutes, with New Zealand scoring five of the last seven goals.
Australian coach Lisa Alexander insisted the decision to bench Bassett at halftime was not a pre-planned move, claiming the 54-test veteran was suffering from a foot injury.
Alexander said her team are "devastated" they were not able to close out the win after leading by six goals at halftime.
"We should have and could have gone on with it in the second half and didn't. It was very disappointing. I think we lost our connections, we made a lot of changes and that's what can happen when you make a lot of changes."
She was hopeful her star shooter would be back in action in the final test in Perth on Friday.
"I think we need her out there at the moment."
The Ferns win technically keeps the 2015 series alive heading into the final test, but with Australia holding a healthy advantage in goal differential courtesy of convincing wins in Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand's chances of snatching the trophy appear remote.
