|
West Coast Fever have kept alive their hopes of claiming the Super Netball minor premiership after beating the top-ranked Melbourne Vixens 68-67 in a heart-stopper at John Cain Arena. Superstar Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard nailed 60 goals from 61 attempts to help the Fever join the Vixens on 40 points at the head of the table with a round to play. After scores were tied at half-time and three-quarter-time, Fowler-Nembhard's efficiency kept West Coast in front throughout the fourth term. Vixens shooters Kiera Austin and Lilly Graham were hot and cold from two-point range down the stretch, but both nailed super shots inside the last 40 seconds but their rally came just too late. "We came out here with one goal in mind and that was to fight really hard," Fowler-Nembhard said. "We were more hungry than the other team. "Super proud of how we played." "It would be good for us to finish in the top two and that's what we're gunning for." Fowler-Nembhard nailed 17 without a miss as the Fever overcame an iffy start to finish the first stanza with an 11-4 burst to lead 20-15 at quarter-time. The margin blew out to 31-22 before reserve shooter Graham was summoned off the Vixens' bench late in the half and went on a long-range tear, drilling four super shots to underpin a 12-3 spree which saw the scores suddenly squared at 34-all at half-time. Fowler-Nembhard scored all 18 of West Coast's third-term goals but at the other end Vixens goal attack Zara Walters continued her red-hot form after her superb opening half and the scores were even at 52-all with a quarter to play. Defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney was superb down the stretch for the Fever, whose only downfall was their inability to win by a seven-plus margin which would have had them overtake the Vixens on the ladder. West Coast will try to make up that ground next week at home against the Melbourne Mavericks, while the Vixens finish the home-and-away campaign away to the Queensland Firebirds.
|
