The GoSweetSpot Mystics fell just short in their first round clash against the Stars at Pulman Arena on Sunday afternoon, allowing the Stars to break their 7 game losing streak to the Mystics with a tightly contested 63-59 win.

Both sides faced injury changes ahead of their season-opener, the home side elevating Abbie Leger and Julia Wynands to the match-day squad for midcourter Greer Sinclair and defender Lili Tokaduadua.

For the Mystics, midcourters Tayla Earle and Katie Te Ao were ruled out with Anne Kirikiri, Stacey Ah Van and Grace Kukutai filling the void.

With defender Phoenix Karaka, returning from maternity leave, and lining up for 150th national league match and new Mystics signing Maia Wilson turning out against her old team for the first time, the match had plenty riding on it.

With both sides boasting richly-talented shooting ends, the game got away to a strong and productive start in a high-scoring opening stanza.

Looking particularly sharp on attack, the Stars, edged to a handy five-goal lead with Amelia Walmsley a picture of poise under the hoop before the introduction of Kukutai steadied the Mystics midcourt.

Midcourt general Peta Toeava found improved links to Wilson as the visitors closed the gap but it was a Martina Salmon Summerset two-point shot that proved the difference in a close first quarter as the Stars headed to the first break with slim 18-16 lead.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed both ways during an exciting second quarter contest with the Mystics out of the blocks quickly while forcing their way into the lead. The high-scoring nature of the first quarter dipped a little as both sets of defenders tightened their grip with Mystics pair Catherine Hall and Karaka putting the squeeze on the Stars shooters.

An 8-2 start pushed the Mystics out to four-goal lead before Salmon nailed successive two- pointers to level up proceedings.

Not to be outdone, Wilson completed a stellar first half with a buzzer-beating two pointer to edge the Mystics into a slim 30-29 lead at the main break, in the process recording a satisfying 21 from 21 return for the opening 30 minutes.

The roles were reversed as the Stars opened the third quarter at a cracking pace with captain Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Claire O’Brien delivering a pin-point service into their shooters and prompting a Mystics tactical time out.

It initially went against the Mystics who fell to a six-goal deficit before a late rally pulled them right back into the contest, the teams left all tied up at 47-apiece at three-quarter time. With the game on a knife-edge, it was well set up for tantalising final quarter.

Leading all shooters with an amazing 44/44, Maia Wilson was impressive from start to finish, while at the other end Catherine Hall was immense in defence taking 4 intercepts and 11 deflections. Eventually, with a late run of possession in the dying minutes, the Stars held on to nail a close win.

All was not lost for the Mystics who did enough to seal an all-important bonus point for finishing within five goals.