West Coast Fever defeated Queensland Firebirds 71-60 at Nissan Arena on Wednesday night, but the win has come at a cost with wing attack Ingrid Colyer injuring her right knee in the third quarter.
This was the first time in Suncorp Super Netball history that Fever have beaten the Queensland side, but emotions were mixed for the team as they wait for news on Colyer’s injury.
Goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler put on a player of the match performance scoring 63 goals at 97% along with six rebounds.
Fowler said when Colyer went off the court the team knew they had to win the game for Colyer and that they are all ‘hoping and praying” for her. Colyer will have scans tomorrow.
Colyer had put on a solid effort during the game with 14 feeds and one intercept.
Captain Courtney Bruce and Stacey Francis were instrumental in moving the ball forward as they challenged Firebirds attack all night. Bruce finished with six intercepts and four deflections and Francis with one intercept and three deflections.
Marinkovich said Bruce is working to continue to improve her game and tonight’s performance was a good display of it all coming together.
“The work had to be done out the front to give Courtney the best time to get her footwork right and I think that’s the thing that has been really growing in her game over the last couple of weeks, which means she’s getting up in the air and being able to contest those balls.” Marinkovich said.
Verity Charles had another strong performance (31 feeds, 23 goal assists and two deflections) while Alice Teague Neeld led the feed (34) count for Fever.
Marinkovich said it’s always been a challenge to overcome the Queensland side.
“They definitely push us because we haven’t won against them in SSN, they play a very similar style of game, very quick, very direct, they shoot big scoring games; the game went very similar to what we envisaged, that there’d be a tussle on the centre pass and it’s how you capitalise on those moments and I thought we did that pretty well in the first half.” Marinkovich said.
Fever started with another strong lead in the first quarter as they went goal for goal with Firebirds. An Ingrid Colyer intercept spurred Fever to score three consecutive goals and take the lead for the first time in the quarter.
A Firebirds timeout saw the scores level again before Francis’ deflection and scramble to keep the ball in play saw momentum swing Fever’s way. As the players gained confidence so too did Bruce who intercepted another Firebirds ball and saw Fowler convert down the other end as Fever applied five unanswered goals to take a 19-13 goal lead at the first break.
Fever continued to play to their strengths directing the ball Fowler, their defence worked overtime and continued to cause some headaches for the Firebirds, leading 36-29 at halftime.
Marinkovich said it’s always been a challenge to overcome the Queensland side.
“They definitely push us because we haven’t won against them in SSN, they play a very similar style of game, very quick, very direct, they shoot big scoring games; the game went very similar to what we envisaged, that there’d be a tussle on the centre pass and it’s how you capitalise on those moments and I thought we did that pretty well in the first half.” Marinkovich said.
Fever’s momentum continued early in the third quarter piling on the goals, while at the other end Francis and Bruce continued to pressure Firebirds forcing them to make mistakes.
Fever were 14 goals ahead when play was stopped as Colyer went down with what appears to be a right knee injury. Fever regrouped and continued to run Firebirds around the court a last minute.
Firebirds attempted to address their shortfalls by bringing on Ine-Mari Venter who scored two Suncorp super shots, but Fever had the last play for the quarter with Bruce intercepting the goal attack and preventing another goal before the third quarter break.
Fever took a 55-42 goal lead into the last quarter and they remained without Colyer as Emma Cosh replaced her in wing attack.
Fowler continued to hit the scoreboard and with seconds remaining Teague-Neeld slotted her first super-shot for the game as Fever ran out 11 goal winners.
