The NSW Swifts cemented their status as the minor premiers in an emphatic fashion, securing a commanding 78-65 victory over the QLD Firebirds at Nissan Arena.
The match showcased the Swifts' dominance from start to finish, with Helen Housby and Sarah Klau leading the charge with their outstanding performances.
The first quarter was neck and neck. Swifts had good pressure early, but The Firebirds were patient and found Donell Wallam to open up the match.
Helen Housby was on fire with 45.5 Nissan Net Points to her name, with 100% shooting accuracy, seven goal assists, three centre pass receives, 10 feeds, and two deflections.
Sophie Fawns was injected for the Swifts at Power Five time, and the scores were all tied up at 17 a piece after the whistle sounded.
The Swifts made the most of the space early in the second quarter, scoring the first two goals and leaving the Firebirds chasing tail.
The Birds struggled on the second phase and the Swifts looked composed. Maddy Proud delivered an impressive second quarter performance, with 37 Nissan Net Points, seven goal assists and 11 feeds.
Sarah Klau did an impressive job off the ball, going toe to toe with Donnell Wallam and pushing her higher up the court.
Emily Moore slotted a crucial Super Shot to level the scores with just over four minutes to go in the first quarter. But there was an immediate answer from the opposition, with Housby scoring three of her own.
Aiken-George’s presence was troublesome for the Firebirds, who trailed by five when the half time whistle sounded.
By Rosie Gale
The Swifts came out strong early in the second half, scoring a quick succession of three goals, looking ready to punish the home team. They held their own in defense with Turner and Klau doing an excellent job on Wallam.
A clever goal on the run from Romelda Aiken-George set up by some clean play out of the middle set the tone for the quarter– but there was an immediate answer from the opposition.
Firebirds coach Bec Bulley called for a tactical time-out with just over 10 minutes remaining. The team underwent significant changes as Gabi Simpson was injected into the WD position, Kim Ravaillion shifted to Centre, and Mia Stower was brought on in GA. The immediate impact of Stower's explosive attacking and shooting accuracy proved instrumental in shifting the momentum in favour of the home side and sparking a comeback.
Simpson soared high to snatch a sensational intercept, and the Firebirds' sharpshooter, Stower, made no mistake as she confidently rewarded her teammate with a goal.
But the momentum shift wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard, with the Firebirds trailing 62-49 into the final term.
The Firebirds’ energy was up and the combination of Stower and Wallam reinvigorated the side. Leesa Mi Mi showcased her incredible determination, chasing down a wayward ball and skillfully bringing it back into play. Meanwhile, Wallam stunned with an impressive layup, gracefully falling out of bounds.
But the side just couldn’t narrow the gap despite their efforts, including an intercept on the fly from Ruby Bakewell-Doran and a pick-up in defence.
The pressure was rampant from the Swifts, forcing some poor decision making from the Firebirds, and the the visitors showcased their seasoned expertise, tactfully holding onto possession and maneuvering the game with patience and precision.
In a tactical move, Ashlee Unie entered the game in GD while Bakewell-Doran took up the position of GK.
The Firebirds squandered vital chances, failing to capitalise on key Super Shots that could have sparked a potential comeback. In a decisive move, Housby's final Super Shot hammered the last nail in the coffin, propelling the Swifts to a commanding 78-65 victory and securing the top spot and the right to a home final.
Sarah Klau was bet on court with 131.5 Nissan Net Points to her name.
