Melbourne Vixens have suffered a 56-65 loss to trans-Tasman competition leaders Southern Steel in Invercargill.
The Vixens showed plenty of fight throughout the match, but failed to capitalise on their chances in attack and apply scoreboard pressure.
After losing Karyn Bailey in the second quarter, 20 year old Alice Teague-Neeld stood up under pressure.
After conceding the first two goals of the game, the Vixens slowly worked into the contest with Teague-Neeld opening the scoring after two minutes.
The Steel established a four-goal lead midway through the first quarter before the Vixens reduced the margin to trail 18-16 at quarter time.
The Vixens were forced into making a change early in the second quarter, with Kim Commane replacing Karyn Bailey at goal shooter, who left the court with knee soreness.
Teague-Neeld stepped up in her absence to keep the Vixens in the contest, while Robinson, Liz Watson and Kate Moloney did a great job of applying pressure in the mid-court.
The Vixens went into halftime down 29-33.
The Steel came out firing in the third quarter, with their attacking combination providing plenty of headaches for the Vixens defence.
The substitution of Emma Ryde into the game to replace Kim Commane brought the Vixens back into the contest, giving them a tall target to aim for in their attacking circle. Ryde had an instant impact, helping reduce the margin to seven goals at the final break.
The Vixens made another change in the final term with Chloe Watson replacing Jo Weston at goal defence but it was to no avail, the Vixens ultimately going down by nine goals.
