The sharpshooter helped Life Studio to a 48-45 win over the defending premiers Orange City in the Orange Netball Association first division as the underdogs never relinquished the lead they took at the start of the game.

After starting the season in second grade, Heta's made a home in the top-flight team and turned in a sensational showing against City as she scored almost every time she had an opportunity.

The top-of-the-table clash had a bit of everything... a gruelling battle between centres Tegan Dray and Charlotte Penny, the aforementioned Heta-goal post collision (which had the entire Life Studio bench in hysterics), and a nail-biting finish that saw the premiers claw to within two points with two minutes to go before Life Studio sealed the deal with - you guessed it - a Sophie Heta goal.

The win marked a big milestone for first-year Life Studio player as she took out the top dogs for the first time in her career.

"I've never beaten Orange City... it's huge," she said.

It's hard to lose a game when you take an 11-point lead into the final term and Heta attributed that to a focused beginning to the game.

"From our defensive end right down to our shooters, everything just clicked which really helped us," she said.

"I think overall we did a pretty bloody goody job and if we can stay consistent throughout the entire game we're in for a chance."

Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical coach Cindy Gilchrist was disappointed her side didn't get the result but ultimately, knows her side left it all out on the court - especially in the fourth quarter.

"It's not about who wins or loses, it's about how we feel we played," Gilchrist said.

"It would have been awful if we came off feeling the way we felt at the end of the third quarter but we came off at full time knowing we clawed our way back in the game and nearly could have won it."

Orange City will have a second bite of the cherry in the first week of finals and Gilchrist has full belief in her side's ability to bounce back.

"We know that we can do it but that's the first time we've played them this year," she said.

"They are a little bit different to what they were in the grand final... they do have the likes of Charlotte Penny who had a major impact in that first half and then Sophie's shooting.

"It will be another really great game next week but our heads just need to be more in the game. They were ready to go and we weren't and that was the difference."