Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard delivered another outstanding performance, scoring 55 of 59 attempts, as the West Coast Fever rebounded from a mid-season slump with a come-from-behind 68-65 win over the Giants in Perth on Sunday.
The victory keeps the Fever within striking distance of the top two in the Super Netball standings, crucial for securing a double chance in the finals. Conversely, the loss dashes the Giants' finals hopes, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the ladder.
The Giants, despite their lowly position, led for more than half the match and were particularly effective during the supershot period. Giants' coach Julie Fitzgerald lamented a lack of confidence that cost them dearly, especially after scoring just nine goals in a disastrous third term.
"I felt for most of the game we played really, really well, but we had a patch where we let it go. We won two quarters, drew one, and still came away without the points," Fitzgerald said. "We come out and really attack the game, but when a couple of things go wrong, we lose a little bit of confidence."
The Fever struggled to contain the dynamic duo of Giants’ captain Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer. Harten scored 35 of 39 attempts, including seven supershots, while Dwyer added 19 from 23 attempts, with four supershots. In contrast, the Fever managed just one supershot at a dismal 12 percent, forcing them to rely on their standard one-point game to stay in contention.
Down by eight points at halftime, Fever coach Dan Ryan made strategic changes that ignited the home crowd, helping the team to complete an 11-point turnaround and take the lead. The final quarter saw both teams scrambling for control of the ball, with Fever’s Kadie-Ann Dehaney narrowly avoiding a send-off after a late challenge on Sam Winders.
Despite the Giants’ supershot prowess, they could not close the gap, and the Fever hung on for a nail-biting win. Fowler-Nembhard was instrumental, top-scoring with 55 goals from 59 attempts. Fever’s Fran Williams also shone, delivering a stellar performance in front of her family, who had traveled from England to watch her play.
Alice Teague-Neeld was named MVP, contributing 36 goal assists and two pickups. Jamie-Lee Price dominated at center for the Giants, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
The Fever’s victory reasserts their position as strong contenders for the Super Netball finals, while the Giants will need to regroup and plan for the next season.
