WEST Coast Fever was playing catch up netball against Sunshine Coast Lightening from early in the first quarter at HBF Stadium on Friday night, eventually going down 46-66.
Coming off a one-point win over Super Netball favourites Collingwood Magpies the week before, Lightning held a commanding seven-point lead at the first break.
Nat Medhurst, who shot 17 goals from 23 attempts, dropped back in to goal shooter in the second quarter with Kate Beveridge coming in to goal attack.
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READ NOWThe lead was out to 15 by half time thanks to former Fever goal shooter Caitlin Bassett who lined up against Courtney Bruce in the teams’ first meeting this season in front of 2817 people.
Fever managed to have an even quarter in the third term when Ingrid Colyer went off the court injured paving the way for Annika Lee-Jones to make her debut but she was no match for Bassett in the goal circle.
Fever coach Stacey Marinkovich said her side was well aware of what cost them the result.
“It was a series of basic errors tonight that let us down,” Marinkovich said
“We were able to disrupt their attack, but if you are going to work so hard to get the ball you have to put them under pressure at the other end and we failed to do that.
“As a group we can take positives from this performance but it will also serve as a reality check on the areas of our game that still require work.”
Fever’s attention now turns to Saturday’s third consecutive home game when they host the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Perth Arena.
The fixture is set to create history, with the game to be played under an open roof in a world netball first.