WAIS Athletes Help Fever to First Win

Three WAIS netball athletes helped the West Coast Fever to their first win of the 2009 ANZ Championship season, after over coming the Northern Mystics 57-46 at Perth’s Challenge Stadium.

Led by the goal scoring prowess of WAIS scholarship holder Caitlin Bassett and the effective defensive partnership of WAIS’ Josie Janz and Susan Fuhrmann, the Fever ran out comfortable winners in their first home match for the year.

After being edged out in both season opening away matches this season, the Fever burst out of the blocks and were dominant in centre court, but with main target Bassett being well marshalled by Mystics GK, Vilimania Davu, Bianca Franklin stepped up to fill the breach with some impressive forward court work and long range shooting.

As Bassett managed to get the better of her opponent, Fever was able to pull clear of the Mystics, gaining a 15-13 quarter time lead.

It was the second quarter in which the Fever set up their win however, as their quick mid court interchange caught their New Zealand opponents flagging as Browne and Bolton began to dictate. Fever opened up a nine goal lead to half-time.

The Fever began the second half without change to its line up, and the tried and tested combinations paid dividends as a travel weary Mystics looked helpless to stop the Fever’s ball movement to shooter Bassett.

Bassett enjoyed a commanding second half and finished with 38 goals for the match at an accuracy of 83%. Franklin provided solid assistance to shoot 19 of 26 for 73% return.

In defence, Fuhrmann and Janz both played full matches and were instrumental in closing down the Mystics scoring opportunities and again proved that their developing partnership can yield success.

English import Pam Cookey proved a livewire for the Mystics, but her efforts aside the Fever were too strong on the night and were left to celebrate a first win of the season in front of home crowd.