Fever Extend Unbeaten Start
The West Coast Fever maintained their spot at the top of the Australian conference with a well-constructed 55-50 win over a plucky Adelaide Thunderbirds in Perth on Sunday.
The inaugural holders of the Challenge Trophy successfully defended their title for the third time on their home court and remain unbeaten in the 2015 season.
Spearheaded by an impressive showing from goal attack Natalie Medhurst (WAIS), the Fever finally broke open an even contest with a powerful final quarter. There was nothing to separate the teams during the first three stanzas before Fever loosened the shackles with a powerful run home.
With Fever passing 50 goals for the fifth straight week, it was a different story for their opponents, who have had a slow start to the season in notching just one win. Sitting at the bottom of the Australian conference, the Thunderbirds struggled throughout to make the most of ample opportunities, a faltering shooting return ultimately proving costly.
Long limbed New Zealand import Erena Mikaera got the nod at goalkeeper for the home team this week in an otherwise settled line-up. The Thunderbirds stuck with their winning starting seven of last week, Leigh Waddington getting the start at centre.
From the outset, this promised to be a tight and close match-up, the intense through-court pressure employed by both teams resulting in measured runs to goal. Waddington and her skipper Renae Hallinan made sure there was no easy passage to Fever danger shooter Caitlin Bassett (WAIS) in what was for most parts a goal-for-goal struggle.
Playmaker Medhurst was the main shooter for the home team early on before Fever found their rhythm late in the stanza to build the slightest of buffers when leading 14-12 at the first break.
Within two minutes of the resumption, the Thunderbirds had levelled the scores as fortunes ebbed and flowed through an absorbing second spell. Benefiting from a growing number of turnovers, the visitors went on a five-goal unanswered scoring streak to forge a three-goal lead.
That coincided with a dip in shooting accuracy, Erin Bell and Carla Borrego often failing to find their range to deny the Thunderbirds a more handsome lead.
With Bassett playing a more influential role and wing attack Khao Watts driving strongly to the circle edge, Fever got back to level terms before the teams went toe-to-toe in the run to half-time.
Narrowing the gap to one, Thunderbirds held a slight edge through the stanza but failed to make the best use of their greater share of possession. Converting at just a 69 percent success rate compared to Fever’s 89, it was the home team who went to the main break with a tenuous 25-24 lead.
With Fever making their customary midcourt switch of captain Ashleigh Brazill (WAIS) going to centre and Shae Brown (WAIS) to wing defence for the second half, it was the Thunderbirds who got out of the blocks quickest.
Madeleine Proud took over from Waddington at centre, the visitors making a 5-1 start in the opening minutes. But the Thunderbirds were again unable to take advantage of a three-goal lead, Fever responding to the challenge to get back on level terms.
The stalemate continued with neither team able to break the game open before a clutch of long range shots from Medhurst and a sloppy finish by the visitors handed the Fever a 40-38 lead at the last break.
– ANZ Championship