PERTH, Australia – Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard delivered another outstanding shooting performance to lead the West Coast Fever to a clinical 76-57 victory over the Melbourne Mavericks in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League.
The match, held at RAC Arena on Saturday, drew a record-breaking crowd of 11,841 spectators.
Despite the 19-goal triumph, the Fever were unable to secure the top spot in the standings, but they concluded the regular season on a high note heading into the finals. The Fever currently sit provisionally in second place with 44 points, tied with leaders Melbourne Vixens, who defeated Queensland Firebirds 62-52.
Flawless with 69 goals from 69 attempts
Fowler-Nembhard, who was flawless with 69 goals from 69 attempts, including a two-point Supershot, played a pivotal role in the Fever’s victory. Alice Teague-Neeld added five goals from six attempts, and fellow Jamaican Shanice Beckford contributed two goals from three attempts.
For the Mavericks, Jamaican shooter Shimona Jok led the scoring with 30 goals from 34 attempts, supported by Eleanor Cardwell with 21 goals from 24 attempts and Gabrielle Sinclair with six goals from eight attempts. Despite their efforts, the Mavericks fell short of making the finals in their inaugural SSN season.
The game started with both teams trading goals, with Fowler-Nembhard and Jok showcasing their shooting skills at opposite ends. The Fever gradually gained control and ended the first quarter with a 20-15 lead. The second quarter saw both teams struggling with possession due to unforced errors, but the Mavericks managed to reduce the deficit with a few unanswered goals.
Strategic changes
In response, Fever’s Head Coach Dan Ryan made strategic changes by moving Sunday Aryang to goal defense, Jess Anstiss to wing defense, and bringing Kelsey Browne in at center. These adjustments paid off immediately, as Aryang secured a crucial rebound from a missed effort by Jok, helping the Fever maintain a 34-30 lead at halftime, despite being outscored 14-15 in the second quarter.
The third quarter mirrored the first, with both teams exchanging goals until Aryang’s intercept allowed the Fever to extend their lead to 56-43 by the end of the quarter. Seeking a 24-goal winning margin to secure the top spot, the Fever intensified their pressure in the final quarter. Although the Mavericks managed to prevent a wider margin of defeat, they could not counter the Fever’s dominance.
The Fever’s victory ensures they enter the finals with confidence and momentum. They are set to face strong competition as they aim to capture the championship title.
