West Coast Fever’s fortress held firm once again as Jamaican sensation Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard turned in a vintage performance to lead the Perth-based side to a narrow 68–66 win over the Sunshine Coast Lightning in front of a roaring RAC Arena on Saturday.
The win marks Fever’s second on the trot and keeps their dominance over the Lightning alive, with their win streak now extended to 10 straight matches against the Sunshine Coast outfit.
If there were any lingering doubts about Fowler-Nembhard’s impact after her return, they were again erased, as the towering shooter delivered a perfect shooting performance, nailing 54 goals from 54 attempts, and added one of three super shot conversions to her tally for a commanding 56-goal haul and 124.5 net points.
Fowler-Nembhard’s dominance under the post, her telepathic connection with Alice Teague-Neeld, and her poise in the clutch were instrumental in the Fever’s late comeback and ultimate triumph.
Her compatriot, Shanice Beckford, brought flair and agility to the circle, as she contributed seven goals from 11 attempts, while Olivia Wilkinson chipped in with five goals.
Lightning entered the match with their own momentum after a statement win over the Firebirds. Cara Koenen, celebrating her 101st game, played with characteristic class, netting 31 goals from 34 attempts, while Reilley Batcheldor gave the Fever defence plenty to worry about with 22 goals, including two super shots.
Steph Fretwell, although shaky early, found her rhythm when it mattered most and scored three of four super shots in her 13 goals to keep the Lightning in the contest and send them into the final break with a slender three-goal advantage.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney of Fever challenges Lightning’s shooter, Cara Koenen, for possession. (Photos: Getty Images)
But as has been the case in recent meetings, Lightning could not land the knockout punch.
The match had the hallmarks of a finals clash, with momentum swinging wildly from quarter to quarter. Fever snatched the early break, but a flurry of Lightning intercepts and Fretwell brilliance saw the scores locked at 19–19 to end the first quarter.
The arm-wrestle continued in the second stanza as both teams executed their game plans with discipline. Lightning owned centre pass conversion (88%), but the Fever were lethal off gains and converted at double the Lightning’s rate as the scoreboard read 35–35 at halftime.
In the third, Lightning burst to a five-goal lead, seemingly breaking the game open. But Courtney Bruce, coming up against her former side, racked up six gains to disrupt the Lightning’s rhythm and lead a Fever fightback. Still, Fretwell’s super shot brace gave Lightning a 53–50 edge heading into the final quarter.
With everything on the line, the Fever came out with intensity and purpose. The pressure told as Lightning missed a couple of critical shots, including a super shot attempt from Koenen, which Fever quickly converted to level the scores.
Teague-Neeld’s distribution was pinpoint, and with Fowler-Nembhard virtually unmissable, Fever turned up the heat when it mattered most. Despite Lightning’s valiant efforts, the hosts remained composed, using every ounce of experience to seal the victory.
The win propelled Fever to fifth on the ladder with eight points, equal with Lightning, who remain third on goal percentage.
