Melbourne Vixens have produced a brilliant performance to shatter West Coast Fever’s unbeaten Super Netball record, with the Victorian team triumphing 76-65 in Perth.
Coming off their first loss, at home to the Sunshine Coast Lightning last weekend, and again without midcourters Kate Eddy and Zara Walters, the Vixens led for most of the game at RAC Arena.
The crowd of 11,119, the biggest attendance for a Fever non-finals game, was often silenced by the visitors' slick passing and excellent shooting.
Fever conceded their biggest score of the season and made a massive 23 turnovers, 10 more than the Vixens, but maintain top spot on percentage with both teams 6-1 at the halfway mark.
Down by three at quarter-time, Vixens outscored Fever 23-14 in the second period and 17-12 in the third to lead 59-48 at the final change.
Two Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard super shots got Fever back to within six with three minutes to go, but as time ticked away they committed turnovers and were outscored 7-2 over the remainder of the game.
Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin missed just one of her 22 one-point shots, added 16 goal assists and consistently troubled the Fever with her movement.
Goal shooter Sophie Garbin finished with 46 from 52 attempts, with the Fever never able to restrict the supply of quality feeds into the deadly duo from Kate Moloney and Hannah Mundy.
“Kiera and Sophie had an amazing game," Vixens captain Kate Moloney told broadcaster Fox Sports.
"They are just growing and growing each week, so I’m excited to see what they can keep doing.”
Fever’s attack was frequently stymied by the defensive efforts of Emily Mannix, Rudi Ellis and Jo Weston, who combined for seven intercepts.
“Our defence end and our attack end really stood up today. I’m so proud of the girls,” Moloney said.
Vixens led early before Jamaican shooter Shanice Beckford turned the opening quarter in the Fever’s favour with four super shots to help the home team to a 22-19 lead at the first change
Fowler-Nembhard (43/47) kept the Fever in the contest, but Beckford committed eight first-half turnovers under pressure from the in-form Mannix.
“We were quite hesitant throughout the game, (and) that hesitation was leading to us throwing it into their hands," Fever captain and midcourter Jess Anstiss told Fox.
"We weren’t very good at that last week as well, so it’s something we need to look at.”
The return from injury of midcourter Kelsey Browne was a positive for the beaten Fever.
