BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – Reigning champions West Coast Fever held off a last-quarter surge from Queensland Firebirds with the help of Jamaican international Jhaniele Fowler to maintain their unbeaten record in the Australian Super League last weekend.
Fever entered the final quarter with a 58-51 lead but found themselves outscored 20-15 before holding on to win 73-71 on Sunday at Nissan Arena.
The 33-year-old Fowler, the league leader in scoring, was at the forefront with 60 goals from 61 attempts, Fever posting their fifth straight win to install themselves as firm favorites to retain their title.
They lead the standings with 20 points, six clear of second-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Donnell Wallam netted 48 from 53 attempts for the losers, who suffered their fifth defeat to remain winless and bottom of the eight-team league.
Fever made a tremendous start, blowing away the hosts 25-15 in the first quarter before following up with a solid second quarter to lead 43-30 at the break.
Jamaica international Romelda-Aiken George.
In the third quarter, they belonged to Firebirds, who outscored Fever 21-15 before coming up short at the death.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to find a way which we did today, but we certainly know that we can be far more clinical across a 60-minute performance,” said Fever coach Dan Ryan.
“However, this is round five, and there’s an end-game insight, so we’ll take it for what it is.
“We will take the win, but look closely to how we can improve individually and collectively.”
Another Sunshine Girl, Romelda Aiken-George, also shone on Sunday, pouring in 43 goals from 49 attempts to propel New South Wales Swifts to a narrow 64-63 victory over Sunshine Coast Lightning, who featured fellow countrywoman Kadie-Ann Dehaney as a goalkeeper.
Playing at UniSC Arena on the Sunshine Coast, Swifts trailed 31-34 at half-time but rebounded in the second half, outscoring the hosts 16-14 in the third quarter and, most importantly, 17-15 in the final quarter.
With the win, Swifts overtook Lightning in fourth place with 10 points, while the losers slipped to fifth.
Cara Koenen led the Lightning with 40 goals from 42 attempts, while Steph Wood supported with 21 from 23 shots.
On Saturday at the Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Jamaican international Shimona Nelson extended her superb start to the season. Still, her efforts were insufficient to prevent Collingwood Magpies from sliding to a 59-55 defeat to Giants Netball.
The 24-year-old netted 36 from 38 attempts, but the Magpies were behind 36-25 at half-time and still fell short despite a sterling 17-10 final quarter effort.
Jo Harten led the winners with 33 from 35 attempts and got support from Sophie Dwyer with 20 from 22.
In the other game on Saturday at the Netball SA Stadium in Adelaide, Adelaide Thunderbirds, with Jamaica defenders Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling, brushed aside Melbourne Vixens 61-50.
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