Fowler leads Fever to historic win in 100th game

PERTH, Australia (CMC):

Jamaican superstar Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard kept up her outrageous scoring with another blockbuster performance as West Coast Fever remained unbeaten in the Australian Super Netball Championship with a 94-58 record blowout of Queensland Firebirds.

Playing Friday at RAC Arena in her 100th Super Netball game, the veteran 34-year-old poured in 62 goals from 64 attempts as Fever remained one of two unbeaten teams in the league with their fifth win - achieved by the largest ever margin in Super Netball history.

Yesterday, Melbourne Vixens edged Trinidadian Samantha Wallace-Joseph's New South Wales 61-59 at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney to keep pace with Fever.

The 30-year-old led the losers with 14 goals from 16 attempts while Sophie Garbin led the winners with 27 from 30.

There was never any real doubt about the result on Friday once Fever raced to a 26-16 lead after the first quarter, which they converted into a 21-goal advantage at half-time, finding themselves up 49-28.

While the third quarter was more competitive, with Firebirds remaining close, Fever had widened their lead to 74-48 at the start of the final quarter, leaving the result a mere formality.

Fowler-Nembhard's Sunshine Girls and Fever teammate, Shanice Beckford, finished with four goals from six attempts playing at goal attack.

For the losers, goal shooter Donnell Wallam ended with 42 from 54 attempts.

Another Sunshine Girl was in the spotlight on Saturday when Romelda Aiken-George starred to help fire Adelaide Thunderbirds to a 59-37 victory over new franchise Melbourne Mavericks at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.

The 35-year-old netted 32 goals from 34 attempts while Lucy Austin supported with 12 from 14, Thunderbirds storming to a 32-18 lead half-time before closing out strongly by out-scoring their opponents 27-19 in the second half.

Goalkeeper Shamera Sterling-Humphrey again proved strongly defensively for Thunderbirds with eight gains, five of which came in the final quarter.

Shimona Jok (formerly Nelson) ended with 14 from 17 for the Mavericks.

In the second game on Saturday at the Ken Rosewall Arena, Jamaican defender Jodi-Ann Ward's Giants Netball got the better of the exchanges in a high-scoring 86-80 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning.