in Match Reports

Fever start 2022 season in style

27 MAR 2022

West Coast Fever claimed a convincing 82-63 win with an electrifying performance against the Sunshine Coast Lightning at RAC Arena in front of 4402 fans on Sunday, March 27.

The final score was Fever’s highest ever, surpassing their total of 80 against Lightning in 2020. It was also just two short of the highest ever National League score of 84 by Southern Steel in 2015.

It was a memorable result for Coach Dan Ryan in his first game as West Coast Fever coach and also for new recruit Rudi Ellis, who made her club debut in the second quarter.

Key Moments

Jhaniele Fowler’s dominance in the attacking circle was exemplified with a vice-like one-handed rebound on the baseline following a missed Suncorp Super Shot.

She finished the game with 65 goals shooting at 97% accuracy and was unstoppable from close range, with her only two misses coming from Super Shot attempts.

Starting Alice Teague-Neeld at Wing Attack proved a success for coach Dan Ryan, as she formed an excellent link between Fowler, Sasha Glasgow and Verity Simmons.

At the other end of the court, a Sunday Aryang intercept in the third quarter was a highlight, while Courtney Bruce’s nine gains, six rebounds, two intercepts and a blocked shot were sensational.

Quarter By Quarter

1st – F 26 | L 18

Lightning were first to score through Cara Koenen before Glasgow responded for Fever. With Bruce rebounding and Teague-Neeld and Simmons feeding Fowler with precision at the other end, Fever pushed ahead by 6 midway through the quarter. A pair of Suncorp Super Shots to Glasgow extended that lead to 10 before Wood replied for the Lightning to reduce the margin to 8.

2nd – F 20 | L 15

With Fever’s strong defensive pressure continuing they maintained their advantage through to the four-minute mark of the second quarter before Rudi Ellis entered the game at Goal Keeper following a Fever timeout. Teague-Neeld and Glasgow continued to combine well at WA and GA and a Glasgow Super Shot extended Fever’s lead to 13 at half time 46-33.

3rd – F 24 | L 11

Coach Dan Ryan changed the line-up with Anstiss moving to Centre and Francis-Bayman coming on at Wing Defence. Aryang returned to the game at GD looking refreshed and immediately intercepted a circle entry. Fever’s lead grew to 20 halfway through the quarter as Fowler hit her 50th goal without a miss. The margin was extended to 26 at the final break, with Fowler adding another 4 and Glasgow slotting her fourth Super Shot for a score line of 70-44.

4th – F 12 | L 19

Emma Cosh entered the game at Wing Attack and Teague-Neeld moved into the circle with Fowler, while Bruce, Aryang and Francis-Bayman continued applying pressure in defence. Lightning fought hard to reduce the margin and out-scored Fever to finish the game with a final score of 82-63.