With the margin at just two goals with three minutes left to play Fever pulled out a clutch performance in defence to secure the win.
Despite a loss the previous week, Ryan was happy with how his team reset ahead of a big game.
“We binned the Magpies performance pretty quickly to focus on the Vixens,” he said.
“Our training this week was really good, all the things we needed to discuss and work through as a team was terrific.”
The Semi Final win ranked as the team’s best of the season according to Ryan.
“The way we approached today and the quality of the performance was our best for the season,” he said.
“Each player was so locked into their role and so locked into each other throughout the contest.
“Our ability to just ride the wave of the constant challenge of the Vixens, keep our composure and by the end produce a really impressive result says a lot about our group.”
At points this season Fever have struggled to close out games, losing three by a single goal. Fever bucked the trend against the Vixens, finishing strongly and this composure under pressure impressed Ryan.
“That defensive effort today was pretty impressive. I thought Courtney Bruce led exceptionally well, she’s a big game player,” Ryan said.
“The moments in that last quarter where she really turned momentum our way with some really heroic acts, Sunday Aryang found her moments as well.
“The effort, endeavour and the ferocity of everybody defensively on the court was really clear today.”
Captain Bruce was outstanding during the game and shone in the final Power Five with a Rebound and an Intercept to seal the win.
She said the game was a tough challenge and everyone on the team did their part.
“We’re stoked, we knew the Vixens would come out to ride us for three and a bit quarters, but to finish like we did, I’m super proud of the group,” she said.
Fever will now play the Swifts in the Preliminary Final in Sydney with both teams winning their respective away games this season.
Bruce said she’s looking forward to the challenge ahead and her team won’t let the occasion get to them.
“I’m excited, I love coming up against Romelda George-Aiken, they are going to be tough though, they’ll have a lot of pride and will want to win in front of their home crowd,” she said.
“I think this group knows how good we are, we haven’t hit our straps just yet but if we can hit them now then that would be pretty damn impressive.”
Catch Bruce, Ryan and the rest of the Fever team in action against the NSW Swifts free on Kayo Freebies
Article By. Oliver Lane
