The NSW Swifts chalked up a one-goal win at John Cain Area to turn into the primary crew this season to defeat the West Coast Fever.
The New South Wales Swifts held off a late surge by the West Coast Fever to supply a nailbiting one-goal win on Sunday, celebrating captain Maddy Proud’s a hundredth nationwide league sport in thrilling type at Melbourne’s John Cain Area.
With their victory, the Swifts turned the primary crew this season to defeat West Coast.
New South Wales led by 9 objectives on the ultimate break, however a last-gasp tremendous shot clinic by Alice Teague-Neeld and Sasha Glasgow took the Fever off the canvas and compelled the Swifts right into a sport of keepings off because the seconds ticked away.
The 66-65 win just about seals a finals berth for the Swifts, whose second and third quarters laid the foundations to the tense overcome their opponents.
The victory broke a three-game dropping streak in opposition to the Fever and capped off every week of celebration for Proud, who had an equal game-high 31 feeds to go along with 19 assists.
Goaler Helen Housby was monumental with 4 tremendous photographs and 11 common objectives, whereas for the Fever, Teague-Neeld and Glasgow mixed for seven double-pointers to scare the Swifts late.
Depth was excessive and defensive stress was evident from the sport’s outset as the competition lived as much as its lofty expectations, with Jhaniele Fowler’s sometimes flawless capturing proving the minor distinction between the edges early.
Swifts shooter Sam Wallace was locked in an intriguing, bodily battle with Courtney Bruce on the different finish, whose defensive prowess complemented the imposing Fowler menace.
However the Fever’s midcourt motion was usually obstructed by the Swifts’ stress and zone defence, which effected a number of second-term turnovers and swung the scoreboard again into New South Wales’ favour.
The Swifts’ second quarter was commanding — they outscored their opponents 21-13 — though the blow was softened by a pair of Glasgow tremendous photographs on the eve of halftime.
The Fever have been favoured by contemporary legs within the second half after lacking final week’s conflict with the Vixens because of Covid issues, however the Swifts remained the hungrier facet and held a slim lead earlier than an excellent shot double blow from Housby blew the margin out to 9 objectives.
Housby’s third-term heroics proved game-defining, and constructed a lead that was finally simply sufficient to carry off the fast-finishing Fever.
Swifts skipper and 100-gamer Proud stated the win would fill her facet with confidence because the season heats up.
“It’s large for us,” Proud stated post-game.
“The Fever are such a top quality crew having not dropped a sport all 12 months, and we all know that our earlier performances in opposition to them, we’ve all the time been in it and we knew that we had what it took.
“Possibly if it had gone for a minute longer it would’ve gone a special means, however the best way we performed in these first three quarters simply exhibits that, on any given day, we will take it as much as any crew.”