Last Week
RAC Arena played host to one of Fever’s most complete games of the season as the team broke records in their 97-63 win over the Queensland Firebirds.
Fever were on another level across all four quarters as they rocketed to the highest team score in Suncorp Super Netball and National Netball League history, beating their 2022 Round 11 score of 86.
By winning the first, second and fourth quarters by more than 10 goals Fever ensured the winning margin was 34 goals, the biggest in SSN history.
Sasha Glasgow set a few records of her own, sinking a new competition benchmark of 14 Super Shots in the game which secured her a competition record 165 Nissan Net Points.
Thunderbirds are coming off a shock 39-60 defeat at the hands of the in-form Vixens in Melbourne last weekend.
The Adelaide outfit won the first quarter and led until there were five minutes left to play in the second term.
From there the Vixens ran circles around their opposition in both the second and third quarters winning them by 11 and nine goals respectively.
When the Thunderbirds made errors the Vixens pounced, getting 16 Goals from Gains and restricting their opposition to a Centre Pass to Goal rate of just 51 per cent.
Match Ups
There is sure to be a blockbuster battle between Jamaican teammates Jhaniele Fowler and Shamera Sterling. The competition’s highest goal scorer will face up against the Goal Keeper with the most deflections and intercepts.
Last time out the contest provided fireworks but ultimately ended even as both players had exceptional games. Fowler scored 51 Goals but Sterling’s defensive pressure provided headaches in getting the ball into the Circle restricting Fever to their fewest Feeds of the year.
At the opposite end of the court Courtney Bruce will be looking to restrict Eleanor Cardwell who sunk 41 Goals including eight Super Shots last time they met. Will a fired-up Bruce coming off the back of a season-best performance be able to reduce the Cardwell factor?
Last Time they Met
Round 6, 2023 – Fever 63 lost to Thunderbirds 64
Fever hosted the Thunderbirds at RAC Arena in a game that lived up to the hype with the Adelaide side coming out on top thanks to a last second Super Shot from Eleanor Cardwell.
Fever led for almost the entire game thanks to a productive first quarter but consistent Super Shot scoring by the Thunderbirds kept them in the game.
Midway through the third quarter, Thunderbirds drew level but Alice Teague-Neeld’s feeding opened a flurry of Fever goals to hold a five-goal buffer.
While Fever held their nerve for much of the final term, the Thunderbirds took their chances when they came to put through four Super Shots to snatch the win.
Stats and Facts
Fever will be wearing their First Nations Round uniform this weekend which features seven circular symbols representing the seven players gathering and coming together.
A win could see Fever go top of the table but the team in green will have to rely on the Vixens defeating the Swifts to go straight to the number one spot. Picking up four points in Adelaide could also see Fever’s spot in the finals confirmed, if the Giants lose their matchup with the Firebirds in Sydney.
Last week, Bruce had a game to remember with a remarkable 12 Gains, six Intercepts and four Defensive Rebounds, all of which was a season high for Fever. Last time the sides met, Bruce was able to get stuck into the opposing side with eight Deflections.
Fowler is now only 78 away from her 5,000 career Goal milestone after scoring 53 Goals in each of her last two games. The Jamaican Shooter has scored at an average of 55 Goals per game this season and is on track to reach the milestone when Fever face Lightning at home in Round 12.
Catch Fever take on the Thunderbirds on Saturday 27 May at 5pm live and free on Kayo Freebies
Match Preview By Oliver Lane
