West Coast Fever returned to winning ways with a 74-64 victory over Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday with top goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler producing a perfect display.
The Fever, co lost to Adelaide Thunderbirds in the previous round, reacted superbly to the shock defeat by outplaying their opponents from early, though they were dismal in the third quarter.
Fowler sank 65 goals from as many attempts to return her team to the top of the Australian Super Netball Championship standings.
They have 24 points, two ahead of Thunderbirds, who defeated Collingwood Magpies 52-47 on the same day.
Fever led 21-13 at the end of the first quarter, before opening up the gap to 39-26 at the half-time break.
They lost the third quarter 18-24 but held firm to see out the victory.
The 33-year-old Fowler reached a milestone in her outstanding Super Netball career, that of her 5,000th goal attempt late in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, in the game in Adelaide, the outstanding pair of Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson of the Thunderbirds got the better of their compatriot Shimona Nelson in victory over the Magpies at Netball SA Stadium.
The victory entered the final quarter with an eight-point (39-31) lead but lost the quarter by three points in a nervy finish.
Eleanor Cardwell led the win with 31 goals from 35 attempts, while Nelson grabbed 30 goals from 32 attempts.
“I think of my five years of being here, this is the best I’ve ever seen the Thunderbirds play consistent netball,” said Sterling, who logged 11 deflections, eight gains, four intercepts and three rebounds in an outstanding display.
“I’m really proud of that and looking forward to what’s next for us.”
Also at the Ken Rosewall Arena in y, Jamaican international Romelda Aiken-George turned in a top showing to help New South Wales Swifts defeat Giants Netball 67-64.
The 34-year-old mother scored 44 goals from 51 attempts as Swifts came from 52-51 down at the end of the third quarter to outscore the visitors 16-12 in the final quarter and take the win.
