Stars shooters Maia Wilson and Paula Griffin were up against a formidable Tactix defence unit, with Silver Fern Temalisi Fakahokotau and captain Jane Watson in and around the shooting circle.
But a hefty amount of turnovers and a decent shooting percentage saw the Northerners lead by nine at halftime.
As the Tactix attacking unit gained considerable momentum as a tighter more focused unit in the second half, the Stars midcourt had to step up.
Led by captain Grace Kara, midcourters Fa'amu Ioane and Anna Thompson maintained a swift pace for the Stars while continually finding a good connection with their shooters from the circle edge.
With a six-goal lead in the final stanza, the Stars were on the verge of sweet victory. But with a track record of final-quarter collapses, they had to remain focused.
But the Tactix weren't giving up the fight. Fakahokotau and Watson fired up their team-mates with a streak of smart intercepts, while Kimiora Poi was clever on attack.
The Tactix closed the gap to a single goal as they stepped up their game significantly in the final 10 minutes. However, the Stars held their nerve to deliver a win for an ecstatic home crowd.
The Stars remain bottom of the ladder with seven points, while the Central Pulse lead with 15.
The Mystics have a chance to climb the table when they face the Southern Steel at Auckland's Trusts Arena Wednesday night.
