In what was one of the squad’s most anticipated games of the season, Fever demonstrated the work they have put in over the pre-season to take down one of the premiership favourites.
Fever set more crowd records with their highest ever first home game attendance and the 8,702 was also the Club’s third highest regular season home crowd of all time.
Q1: Fever 20 | Lightning 17
On fire is the only way to describe Fever’s start to their first home game of 2024 as Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard scored her first goal within seconds.
Shanice Beckford worked with Fowler-Nembhard to move their way around the strong Lightning defence and looked unstoppable as a duo.
Fran Williams cemented her place in front of her new home crowd, her skills leading to Lightning earning a held ball in a crucial turn over. Sunday Aryang started her incredible game with two deflections and an intercept in the first quarter, only the start of her integral presence across the match.
Q2: Fever 37 | Lightning 26
The mid-court came out soaring in the second quarter, moving the ball down the court and stopping Lighting any chance they could get. Alice Teague-Neeld had a whopping 10 feeds throughout the quarter, accompanied by captain Jess Anstiss’ multiple turn overs from a Lightning ball.
Centre superstar Kelsey Browne consistently puts everything she has into claiming possession over the ball, often putting her body on the line.
Q3: Fever 57 | Lightning 42
Fowler-Nembhard came out in the second half just as strong as the first, earning a quick goal and setting the team up nicely. Kadie Ann Dehaney once again turned the ball over in the Lightning goals and Williams looked stuck to her opposition like glue.
The pair made Lightning work extra hard for a chance at goal.
Beckford demonstrated that she’s not just an accurate shot, taking an intercept in the goal circle and saving the ball before it went out of court, feeding to partner Fowler-Nembhard.
Q4: Fever 57 | Lightning 42
Fever took the win home in the last quarter in front of a roaring crowd. Browne’s presence was felt wherever she was with her quick hands turning over the ball and feeding into the circle. Anstiss seemed to always be there when her teammates needed her, saving the ball as it came off Lightning’s hands. Teague-Neeld was a huge part of the shooting success working her way around the circle to assist when needed.
Olivia Wilkinsons entrance to her first home game was one to witness, with two supershots in a matter of minutes.
