By Charlie McKay
West Coast Fever defeated Sunshine Coast Lightning 68-66 in a nail-biting affair at RAC Arena on Saturday night.
An electric Perth crowd pushed the Fever on to clinch their second win for 2025, devastating a sharp Lightning outfit.
Both teams entered the Round 4 clash riding a wave of momentum, with Lightning fresh off a dominant win over the Firebirds, and Fever buoyed by their first win of the season against the Vixens in Melbourne.
Lightning have been unable to string together consecutive wins this season, but they showed promising signs tonight.
Fever have proven to be a bogey team for Lightning, having won the last nine encounters against the Sunshine Coast side.
Tonight marked Fever鈥檚 return to RAC Arena since the comeback of super star Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, and they showed it鈥檚 still a fortress.
It was a clinical opening term, with neither team giving up possession. Both sides showed patience in working the ball to circle edge, finding their shooters repeatedly under the post.
Cara Koenen, fresh off a standout performance in her 100th cap, opened tonight鈥檚 game in similar fashion with composure and precision.
Ash Ervin was tasked with containing Fowler-Nembhard after a superb display in Round 3, but she was taken off for Courtney Bruce after just six minutes.
Fever stole the first break of the game and edged out a four goal lead before Lightning snatched it back with a couple of clutch intercepts and a Steph Fretwell supershot.
The teams went into quarter time tied at 19 apiece.
It was a tight tussle at RAC ArenaThe arm wrestle continued in the second term as both teams stuck to clinical game plans.
Lightning dominated centre pass conversion, sitting at 88 per cent, while Fever scored off 100 per cent of their gains, doubling Lightning鈥檚 gain-to-goal rate. 聽聽聽聽聽
Sunday Aryang returned from injury and was injected for some punch in Fever鈥檚 defence.
Lightning skipper Fretwell was uncharacteristically shaky under the post and got sidelined for Reilley Batcheldor, who was steady in attack.
The game was tied once more at half time, 35-35.
Momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the third, with Fever getting an early break before Lightning broke the game open, stealing a five-goal lead.
Fever clawed back the margin with some timely gains, but Lightning kept their nose in front.
Bruce was dominant against her old club, racking up 6 gains and making a compelling case for a spot in Lightning's starting seven.聽
Fretwell re-entered the game and delivered two supershots before the siren, sending Lightning into the final break with a 53-50 lead.
Lightning came close but couldn't topple a firing Fever outfitFever came out firing in the final quarter, stealing early gains and levelling the score.
Lightning answered and led until late in the quarter, when Fever capitalised on a missed Koenen super shot and quickly converted.
The connection between Alice Teague-Neeld and Fowler-Nembhard was strong as ever, and Fever were difficult to halt in attack.
Fowler-Nembhard put out yet another dominant performance on home soil, finishing the game with 55 goals and 124.5 Net Points.
Fever will take confidence from the clutch win and look to build on their momentum when they host the Mavericks at home next week.
Lightning will regroup and aim to bounce back against the GIANTS on the Sunshine Coast.
