A horror third quarter has dealt the NSW Swifts’ Minor Premiership hopes a blow as they fell to the Melbourne Mavericks 68-64 at John Cain Arena on Saturday night
Already qualified for the Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series, the Swifts produced a huge comeback in the last period to keep the result in doubt till the end but it wasn’t enough to prevent a third loss for the year.
In the process they ceded top spot on the ladder to the West Coast Fever who now sit one win clear of the Swifts with two regular-season rounds to play.
Despite a rapid start from the visitors, the Mavericks defied their position on the table to cause an upset that keeps their slim Finals hopes alive for another week.
While the Swifts led by as much as seven early on, they were scrappy for the majority of the first half and headed to the halftime break three goals in arrears.
Normally brilliant in the third stanza, this week the Swifts were second best against a Mavericks team that played their best game of the season. The hosts condemned NSW to 22-14 loss in that quarter and gave them a mountain to climb in the last.
And with a few minutes to play it looked like the Swifts would produce a huge comeback to maintain their position on top of the table, but it came too late.
As she has been down the seasons, Shimona Jok once again proved herself to be a thorn in the Swifts' side, landing 61 goals from 63 attempts to be the catalyst in the win for the Mavericks.
For NSW, Grace Nweke (48/53) continued to be a reliable target for her feeders but it was at Super Shot time that Briony Akle's team struggled. Between Helen Housby and Sophie Fawns the Swifts only scored four two-pointers from nine attempts with neither player able to rebound their missed shots.
Defensively Sarah Klau continued to show why she is one of the best in the game with an impressive five gains, but on the night her counterparts at the Mavs end in Kim Brown (nee Jenner) and Jessie Grenvold had the better of things and those fine margins counted in the end.
Next Saturday the Swifts welcome the Sunshine Coast Lightning to Ken Rosewall Arena and that game now looms as a must-win if the seven-time Premiers are keep their Minor Premiership ambitions - and hopes of hosting the Major Semi Final - alive.
