Maddy Gordon. Photo: Photosport.
The Pulse scraped past the Stars 64-62 to extend their streak to four wins and go top of the ANZ Premiership for the first time this season.
The defending champions fought back from four goals down entering the final quarter to steal victory in a repeat of last year's grand final.
It was the only quarter of the night that the Pulse won, doing so by six goals, in what was an immense battle and a match for the attackers in a high-scoring encounter.
Pulse captain Kelly Jury stood up for the defenders with a crucial intercept in the dying stages of the game but the hosts did the damage early in the fourth quarter to set the tone for a pulsating finish.
Playing with a freedom and joy that had been missing from their last three matches, the Stars looked to have dug themselves out of a mid-season slump and will be ruing their slow start to the last spell where they allowed their opponents to make inroads.
The Stars had controlled much of the match, winning the second and third quarters, but were unable to finish the key plays with the possibility of extra time looming in the tight tussle.
They welcomed back Elle Temu, who missed last week's action with an ankle injury, although the defender was replaced after the first quarter, when the teams were locked together at 16-16.
The Pulse were forced to turn to their own bench also just two minutes into the quarter with Maddy Gordon leaving the court, with what looked like a knee niggle, pushing Fa'amu Ioane into centre and Parris Mason joining the action at wing defence.
The Stars led 35-32 at halftime and they extended it to 52-48 advantage turning into the last quarter.
Gordon returned to court as the Pulse unleashed a strong finish that lifts them one point ahead of the Mystics, although they have played two extra games.
The Stars remain in fourth, with a 5-5 record.
- RNZ