WEST Coast Fever threatened to break the Queensland Firebirds unbeaten Championship run on the weekend, pushing the reigning Premiers for four quarters in a nine-goal loss.
The Firebirds raced to a three-goal advantage in the opening quarter, before a determined Fever mid-court provided opportunities for shooters Caitlin Bassett and Nat Medhurst to level the scores at 15 goals apiece at the first break.
The Premiers took advantage of some turnover ball to skip out to a five-goal lead approaching the halftime interval, before another push from the home side cut the margin back to three at the main break.
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READ NOWFever stole the momentum at the start of the third quarter to level the scores and push the Firebirds back on their heels.
The visitors responded in kind, weathering the Fever storm before asserting their own authority to establish a four-goal advantage at the final break.
A run of five consecutive goals to begin the final term from the Queensland side applied further scoreboard pressure on the home side, extending the margin to nine goals with time running out.
Despite a final drive from the West Coast outfit, the task proved too tall, with the Firebirds recording a 61-52 victory at the final siren.
Fever now have six days to prepare for yet another Australian Conference clash, with their first game of the season at Perth Arena on Saturday afternoon against the Melbourne Vixens.
The game will mark the first of Fever’s final two home games of the 2016 Championship season, both of which will be played at Perth’s premier indoor venue.
You can purchase a two-game membership for the Fever’s final two games.