Jhaniele Fowler’s West Coast Fever was toppled from top place in the Australian Super Netball Championship by surprise team Melbourne Vixens despite the Jamaican captain and ace goal shooter coming up big yet again.
In a game played at the John Cain Arena on Sunday, the Fever lost by a solitary point, 73-74, after facing a two-point deficit, 35-37 at the half-time interval.
It was their second defeat of the season.
Jhaniele Fowler netted 48 goals from 49 attempts, while Mwai Kumwenda grabbed 45 goals from 50 attempts for the winners. Teammate Kiera Austin assisted with 23 goals from 29 attempts.
Fever had trailed 16-18 at the end of the first quarter and were down by two points at the half time break, only to find their rhythm and go ahead by a point, 54-53, to start the fourth and final quarter.
In another game played on Sunday at the Ken Rosewell Arena, Sunshine Girl Romelda Aiken-George was in sparkling form but her Sunshine Coast Lightning lost 63-67 to New South Wales Swifts.
The Jamaican had 38 goals from 47 tries, while Helen Housby registered a perfect 15 goals from as many tries.
Meanwhile, Cara Koenen netted 37 goals from 42 attempts for the Lightning, who had Sunshine Girl Kadie-Ann Dehaney on their roster.
Meanwhile, outstanding Sunshine Girl defender Shamera Sterling helped Adelaide Thunderbirds restrict the Giants in a 54-50 victory which propelled them to the top of the points table.
In another game played on Saturday at the Nissan Arena, the Queensland Firebirds edged Collingwood Magpies 73-67.
