The hard-nosed defence, which earned the Lady Bandits five more minutes to try get the win on Saturday night, lapsed late in a disappointing loss in extra-time.
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Centre Hayley Lepaio tied the game up 71-all sinking two free-throws with 13 seconds to go to extend the showdown with Canberra Capitals Academy.
Lepaio’s soft touch around the rim continued into the last but the intensity of the Bandits dropped after two consecutive three-pointers from Capitals’ Elizabeth Tonks with about a minute on the clock.
The Lady Bandits couldn’t recover as the Canberra squad grabbed their first win of the season 90-81.
The Border team came back from large deficits several times throughout the game being as low as 17-points at one stage.
Sweet-shooting forward Alex Ciabatonni (21 points) was the spark who kept the home-side within striking distance.
She connected on six three-pointers with her lofty rainbow shot and only missed one from long range.
Ciabatonni’s hot-streak cooled off in the fourth but guards Megan Quinn and Rebecca Guglielmino forced a series of turnovers on the back of solid pressure.
Lepaio came to the fore in the later stages, using her physicality to bruise by the Capitals defenders and rack up 23 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bandits will face undefeated Kilsyth next round.
