The Taranaki Trojans took out the plate final in Dunedin last weekend at the last of three national women's basketball tournaments held this winter.

The Trojans won two of their five games including a come-from-behind win to beat Palmerston North Storm 63-56 in the plate final.

A slow start saw the Trojans down 18-16 after the opening quarter. Trojans coach Trent Adam said Taranaki showed greater commitment on defence and pushing the ball on offence were able to pull off a 31-20 run over the second and third quarters to put them 47-38 heading into the final quarter.

The Trojans maintained the pressure and, playing aggressive team defence, held on for a good win.

Top scorers for the Trojans in the final were Jelena Vucinic (16) Georgina Richards (14) and Josie Stockill (13)

Earlier in pool play, the Trojans lost 69-56 first up to the Waikato Wizards.

Adams said the game plan was to play at a fast pace to try and apply pressure on the opposition.

"While this was done for short periods, the team was unable to maintain it throughout and gave up too many simple baskets in the second half.

The second game against the Otago Goldrush proved a closer affair with the homeside coming way 54-49 winners.

Adam said the Trojans put together a far more consistent effort.

Taranaki's Zoe Kensington had a great game holding double international Suzy Bates to 13 points, including holding her scoreless in the second half, he said.

After starting well and holding the opposition to just nine first quarter points, the Trojans dropped away mentally over the next two quarters in that game giving away 37 points against New Zealand Force Academy going ton 58-50.

Adam said despite working their way back into the game, holding the Academy to 12 fourth quarter points the damage had been done.

The Trojans came up against title favourites and winner's of the first two tournaments in New Plymouth and Auckland, NZ Force Harbour Breeze, and got close to upsetting the high flyers losing 69-62.

Adam said the Trojans fought their way into the game after a slow start to take a 33-32 lead into halftime.

He said a strong third quarter by the Breeze pulled them in front by nine before Trojans clawed their way back to be down just three with two minutes remaining on the clock.

"Unfortunately that was a close as it got," Adam said.

Three players from the Trojans squad, Zoe Kensington, Jelena Cucinic and Georgina Richards are currently in camp in Dunedin with the national Tall Ferns squad of 23 players preparing for a three-game series in Japan next month.