Q1: Fever 15 | Thunderbirds 20
Olivia Wilkinson relished her first chance to start in 2024 and along with Kelsey Browne and Alice Teague-Neeld provided great energy for Fever.
A crucial deflection and pickup from Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Browne allowed Fever to level scores at the beginning of the Power Five.
Three turnovers in the super shot period allowed the Thunderbirds to build a five-goal lead at the first break.
Q2: Fever 24 | Thunderbirds 39
The second quarter was controlled by the Thunderbirds as they built a 12-goal lead at the start of Power Five off the back of defensive pressure and Fever turnovers.
Coach Dan Ryan made changes to the line up with Shanice Beckford, Jordan Cransberg and Fran Williams all entering the court as he sought to change the momentum of the game.
By half time the Thunderbirds led by 15 goals as three missed Fever super shots allowed the home team to increase their advantage.
A late Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard super shot matched one scored earlier by Lauren Frew.
Q3: Fever 41 | Thunderbirds 51
Fever swung the changes at half time as Teague-Neeld moved to Goal Attack, Browne to Wing Attack and Jess Anstiss into Centre. Sunday Aryang moved up to Wing Defence, while Williams and Dehaney rounded out the seven.
The lead got out to 18 at one stage before Fever started to slowly eat into the deficit. Trailing by 14 at the start of Power Five before two Teague-Neeld super shots helped get the visitors within 10 at the final change as they won the quarter 17-12.
Q4: Fever 71 | Thunderbirds 68
The battle intensified early in the last as Fever looked to chase down the Thunderbirds.
By the Power Five, the home side lead by 15 goals and it was too much to run down. Despite another super shot from Fowler-Nembhard, the Thunderbirds controlled the final five minutes.
Fever will now face the NSW Swifts at RAC Arena next Sunday at 2pm. Tickets selling fast via Ticketek now
