Rebounding from last week’s loss, Melbourne Vixens showed their class with a well-constructed 58-49 win over West Coast Fever in Perth on Saturday.
Fever could not back up from last week’s rare win over an Australian team (NSW Swifts), stumbling again in a season where consistency of form continues to play a hand as they produced a disappointing result in their first game at the new Perth Arena.
Vixens dictated the pace and terms of the match throughout, able to lift when needed in providing answers to everything Fever threw at them.
Both teams were missing key performers of recent weeks with Fever’s athletic wing defence Ashleigh Brazill and Vixens’ form shooter Karyn Howarth ruled out with injury. Andrea Gilmore slotted in for Brazill, back for her first game since suffering an ankle injury in round one while Sharelle McMahon and Tegan Caldwell combined in-goal to give Vixens a short but mobile shooting duo.
Smoother with their transition through court, Vixens strength in the midcourt helped the visitors gain the early momentum. Assertive driving play by Madison Browne and Elissa Macleod was a feature of an easy access to the circle edge where nippy shooters McMahon and Caldwell expertly created space with their impeccable timing.
At the other end, Fever struggled with their attacking transition, the defensive exploits of Geva Mentor, Bianca Chatfield and Shannon Eagland causing hesitancy and turnover opportunities. The visitors were well in control when leading 16-10 at the first break.
The signs looked ominous for the home team on the resumption, the Vixens midcourt again dictating terms and helping the team from Melbourne stretch out to a nine-goal lead. As is their way, however, Fever were far from done.
A late quarter surge, with veteran shooter Catherine Cox and Verity Simmons leading the way on attack, took Fever out of their holding pattern and into a position of serious challengers.
Defender Eboni Beckford-Chambers got her hand on some handy turnover ball to give Fever extra impetus, the momentum helping the home team chip away at the deficit. The Vixens kept them at bay, holding on to a 31-26 lead at the main break but aware Fever were breathing down their necks.
Fever could not get the vital breakthrough to gain further inroads in an absorbing third stanza. Vixens produced their own surge to secure their grip on the match, McMahon and Caldwell providing the finishing under the hoop. The home side failed to make the most of their opportunities, coughing up the ball when in a position to close the game up.
Vixens’ greater accuracy and composure ensured they kept their noses in front with a 43-37 advantage at the last break.
With several thrilling turnovers, Beckford-Chambers did her best to inspire her team-mates but the sting went out of Fever’s attacking momentum. Well contained by Vixens defensive line, Fever’s affront line undid a lot of the good work, turning the ball over frequently as the visitors’ made them pay.
Dominant throughout, Browne carved up through the midcourt, supplying McMahon and Caldwell a steady stream of ball as the visitors pushed out to a 10-goal lead to effectively sew up the match.
