West Coast Fever remain the only unbeaten team in Suncorp Super Netball after a thrilling 66-65 win against GIANTS at RAC Arena in Indigenous Round.
After opening scoring with a Jhaniele Fowler goal, Fever didn’t lead again until the dying stages of the fourth quarter.
The lead exchanged hands several times in the final minutes, with GIANTS shooter Jo Harten scoring consecutive Suncorp super-shots before Fowler received a penalty on the final siren to secure the win in front of more than 4500 screaming green army fans.
Fowler finished the game with 55 goals from 56 attempts, while Sasha Glasgow contributed five goals and three super-shots.
Harten put on an impressive shooting display for the GIANTS with nine super-shots from 13 attempts, keeping her side in the contest as Fever lifted their intensity.
Courtney Bruce (6 gains and 4 intercepts) and Sunday Aryang (4 gains and 3 intercepts) were again instrumental in defence, with strong support from Stacey Francis-Bayman, Jess Anstiss and Olivia Lewis.
Verity Charles excelled in offence with 21 goal assists from 38 feeds, while Glagow also recorded 20 assists from 20 feeds.
The contest was physical from the outset, with Bruce and Harten battling for position at one end of the court and Fowler and Sam Poolman clashing at the other.
Fever found themselves down 14-8 early before calling a timeout and returning with more intensity to cut the margin back to four goals at quarter-time.
Fowler was on target early with 11 from 12 in the opening term, while Glasgow added a super-shot.
A Bruce intercept in the second quarter reduced the margin to two goals before three GIANTS super-shots extended their lead to 37-29 at half time.
Fever cut the margin back to six before it was pushed out to nine in the third quarter. A late rally and Glasgow super-shot reduced margin to three goals heading into the last quarter.
Intercepts to Bruce and Aryang saw Fever level the scores at 59-59 in the fourth quarter and they pushed ahead to lead 63-61.
Another Harten super-shot levelled the scores again, before GIANTS were called for a held ball in the dying minute and Fever were able to get the ball forward to Fowler who was able to score from a penalty to win after the final siren.
