West Coast Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler starred with a massive 58 goals in her side’s loss to Giants 68-75 at Nissan Arena on Tuesday afternoon.
Fowler’s performance in attack wasn’t the only standout for the club, with training partner, Sunday Aryang stepping up to the challenge in defence, taking on Giants shooter and Australian representative Caitlin Bassett in the absence of captain Courtney Bruce (back). Aryang finished with three intercepts and one rebound.
Fever started well against the Giants who were winless heading into this game, taking a three-goal lead into the first break.
Both Fowler and Bassett went goal for goal in the second quarter until Giants took control with captain Jo Harten scoring 3/3 Super Shots in the Power five period and a 39-35 lead at halftime.
Fowler was supported by goal attack Alice Teague-Neeld who provided plenty of the ball with 23 feeds, mid-courter Verity Charles sending the ball into the attacking circle 25 times. Fowler accuracy under the net was near perfect (98%), but admitted she has a bit of work to do around the super-shot scoring one from eight attempts and noted the two-day turnaround between games does impact preparation.
“I’m more than capable of going for the two-point shots I was just not settled and when the scoreboard pressure is on that’s a different thing in itself." Fowler said.
"When the pressure is on I need to be more composed and just sink my shots.”
Midcourter Jess Anstiss had already put her body on the line for the Fever, dislocating a finger in the first half and returning from treatment for the second half as her side slipped behind by 10 goals.
In her 200th game, Bassett finished with 47 goals for the Giants, Harten finished with 16 goals and six super-shots.
