BALLARAT Lady Miners had the win they had to have in the South East Australian Basketball League in Ballarat on Saturday night.

Starved of game time, the Ballarat Community Lady Miners ran over the top of North West Tasmania 90-59.

Having only its fourth game in the opening six weeks of the women's conference season, Ballarat stamped its authority after a sluggish first quarter.

NW Tasmania jumped away to a five-point lead, but was outscored 76-40 for the rest of the night as Ballarat found some badly needed rhythm.

"We're still learning to play together," coach Kym Cassells said.

She said it did not matter how much training a team did, there was nothing like court time.

Cassells said it was a pity that the Lady Miners would now have another week off before finally getting into full stride.

"We just want to get out there."

The playing coach said the North West Tasmanian encounter was all about getting the job done.

"It'll do us the world of good."

Andrea McMahon made her biggest offensive contribution since returning, with 21 points - 15 in the first half.

Starting on the bench, the guard went hard at it when given the chance and completed an all-round game with six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

McMahon, who played with Knox last season, had been solid defensively in the Lady Miners' early matches, but this performance provided another dimension.

"She was very good," Cassells said.

Imports Michelle Musselwhite and Crystal Coston finished strongly.

They were doing the best at the end.

Musselwhite chalked up 14 points, while Coston matched the consistent efforts of Kristy Rinaldi with 15 points.

Coston also helped Ballarat dominate the boards with 12 rebounds. Rinaldi had 11.

The Lady Miners now sit sixth on two wins and two losses.

Their next assignments will be a doubleheader against Frankston on Saturday, April 19, and Knox on Sunday, April 20.