Fever Post Record Equalling Win
The West Coast Fever equalled their highest winning margin last night against the Haier Central Pulse at Challenge Stadium, defeating the New Zealanders 63-45.
The 18 point victory is Fever’s third for season 2010 but coach Jane Searle can still see room for improvement.
The Fever came out blazing in the first quarter, restricting the Pulse to just nine goals as they opened up a seven point lead.
The Pulse hit back in the second, after conceding nine turnovers in the first quarter and trailed by just eight at half time. The introduction of Rachel Rasmussen at goal defence and the work of Daya Pritchard seemed to stifle Fever’s run in the second term.
But the second half belonged to Fever, as WAIS athlete Caitlin Bassett stepped up her accuracy and began to get the better of Silver Fern Katrina Grant. Bassett finished the match with 42 goals.
Leah Shoard played her best match in Fever colours, shooting 21 goals at 72%, but it was the performance of young centre Shae Bolton (WAIS) that resigned the Pulse to their 9th loss in 2010.
Bolton had 23 goal assists, the equal highest for any player in 2010, and two intercepts for the match until coming to the bench in the final quarter.
Her focus and drive set-up a number of scoring opportunities for Bassett, as Bolton showed she is ready to step up into a more experienced role.
And her teammates were full of praise after the match.
“Shaebo really showed why she is a massive young talent in Australia. She read the play really well and withstood a lot of physical pressure throughout the match”, said WAIS scholarship holder Johannah Curran.
The defensive pressure of Fever rushed the Pulse in attack, and forced the visiting side to commit 26 turnovers.
Fever had a record 30 deflections to just 6 for Pulse, with Captain Johannah Curran able to get hands on 11 deflections, while goal defender Emma Beckett had 8.
The match will give Fever a lot of confidence ahead of their tough two game road trip to Auckland and Adelaide in the space of eight days.
Fever head to New Zealand Thursday ahead of their big clash with the Northern Mystics on Saturday, hoping to notch their fourth win for 2010.
– Netball WA