The star of the show was young gun Ruth Aryang, who stepped up in her first finals appearance with three deflections, two intercepts and a rebound.
Q1: Fever 12 | Mavericks 16
The Mavericks took an early lead, with their defensive pressure through the midcourt proving relentless.
Captain Jess Anstiss led with style, taking two intercepts for the quarter and bringing the composure that comes with seven straight finals appearances.
Sasha Glasgow produced two super shots to tighten the margin before quarter-time.
Q2: Fever 29 | Mavericks 28
The second quarter was all about the fightback.
Jordan Cransberg rotated the centre bib with her twin and brought plenty of accuracy to her goal assists.
Ruth Aryang was on fire, nailing a clutch deflection and intercept to the roar of the crowd.
Glasgow once again found herself in super shot range twice, helping put Fever ahead by one at the main break.
Q3: Fever 44 | Mavericks 40
Aryang continued her sensational form with another intercept in the third quarter, as Fever’s defensive pressure left the Mavericks unsettled.
Fran Williams stole two intercepts, while Glasgow’s shot on goal put the side up by one.
Q4: Fever 56 | Mavericks 52
With the season on the line, Fever stepped up.
Maturity and experience became evident as the Mavericks started to panic, while Fever slowed their play and remained level-headed.
Williams, Dehaney, Aryang and Alice Teague-Neeld all notched deflections.
Two super shots from the Mavericks put the score in doubt, but Kadie-Ann Dehaney took every rebound possible to keep Fever alive.
Fever will now travel to Melbourne to face the Melbourne Vixens in the Preliminary Final on Saturday, 27 June 5:30pm WST.
