The once-powerful division one team returned to the Big V grade on Saturday night after a hiatus and successful stint in division two, defeating Latrobe City Energy 70-54 in their round one battle at the Arc.

Teenager Molly McKinnon scored a game-high 32 points and debutant centre Alana Strom reeled in 23 rebounds.

Mermaids coach Louise Brown was rapt with their smooth transition back into division.

“We had a really good start to the game. In the second quarter we lost a little bit of momentum and then we came out in the third quarter and broke away,” she said.

“We got about 18 points in front and maintained that pretty much for the best of the game. We got all 12 people on the floor and everyone who came on did something, so it was promising moving forward.”

Brown said McKinnon produced an all-round performance in a sign of her growing maturity as a player.

“She did a role defensively as well which is something we’ve challenged Mol to do, that she’s got to play both ends of the court,” she said.