Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has celebrated her 35th birthday by launching West Coast Fever to a 72-62 semi-final victory over Sunshine Coast Lightning and into the Super Netball preliminary final.
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Fowler-Nembhard was an unstoppable force in attack at RAC Arena on Sunday, draining 67 goals and only spoiling a 100 per cent shooting display by missing a couple of junk-time two-pointers late.
The Fever will take on the Melbourne Vixens in the preliminary final at John Cain Arena next Saturday.
The winner of that clash will advance to the grand final on August 3 against the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who smashed the Vixens 68-43 in their major semi-final on Saturday.
Third-ranked West Coast were sternly challenged by fourth-placed Lightning in a seesawing first half before the Fever stamped their authority with an 18-12 third quarter.
"That's what I told the girls: 'can I have a win for my birthday'," Fowler-Nembhard said.
"They gave me that, so I'm happy.
"We know (at half-time) we need to shut the door and keep surging in that third quarter.
"I love the pressure, I love the energy I get from the crowd, week-in, week-out."
Fowler-Nembhard was a threat from the outset, burying all 16 of West Coast's goals without a miss, but it was the Lightning who pinched an 18-16 quarter-time lead in frenetic fashion.
Sunshine Coast Lightning wing defence Mahalia Cassidy conjured two intercepts in a matter of seconds as the Lightning, who missed their first three super-shots, drained back-to-back two-pointers in the last 16 seconds of the opening term.
With the connection between Liz Watson and Cara Koenen a feature, the Lightning extended their lead to four midway through the second stanza, before the momentum shifted West Coast's way.
Shanice Beckford shook off her turnover-riddled opening quarter to prove an ideal foil for Fowler-Nembhard in the circle and the Fever edged ahead by one at half-time.
Fowler-Nembhard hit all 18 of West Coast's goals - still without a miss - in the third term as the Fever strengthened their grip on the contest, stretching their cushion to seven at three-quarter-time.
The Lightning's only chance of extending their season was to catch fire from long range but their two-point game was way off, and they were denied consistent second chances through the powerhouse rebounding of Fever defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney.
Australian Associated Press
