Both sides continued to be guilty of poor connections on attack, and inaccurate shooting once they got near the hoop, allowing the defenders to have a field day.
The Pulse brought goal attack Tiana Metuarau into their shooting circle at the same time the Steel turned to Summer Temu at goal shoot.
The move initially benefitted the Pulse as they eased out to a double-figure advantage (where the Steel had only scored one goal in eight minutes).
Although Temu and Georgia Heffernan started to click in the Steel circle, well fed by the bullet-style passing of new signing Charlotte Lourey, the Pulse went into the halftime break 25-17 ahead.
While the combination of Claire Kersten and Whitney Souness controlled the Pulse attack, the duo of Parris Mason and Jackson were again dominant in defence. Mason left the court to have an ankle injury strapped after a mid-quarter trip, but was back causing havoc for the Steel shooters in a flash.
The Pulse grew in confidence as the Steel struggled and won the quarter 19-10.
Down 44-27, the Steel had moments of clarity in the final quarter, with Heffernan putting away some clean long shots to end with 20 from 34 (87 percent)
Salmon, who copped an accidental elbow to the nose, improved with accuracy as the game went on to finish with 53 from 62 (85 percent).
Shooting Stats - Steel:
Grace Namana 11/16 (69 percent)
Georgia Heffernan 20/24 (83 percent)
Summer Temu 7/7 (100 percent)
Shooting Stats - Pulse:
Martina Salmon 53/62 (85 percent)
Kiana Pelasio 3/5 (60 percent)
Tiana Metuarau 9/12 (75 percent)