The NSW Swifts have maintained their unbeaten start to the Super Netball season with a gritty 68-62 win over the Melbourne Mavericks at Ken Rosewall Arena.
After making a slick start, the Swifts were challenged sternly for much of Saturday night's clash, before finally breaking free of the Mavericks in the closing minutes.
NSW led 60-59 heading into the power five, and that was long-range specialist Helen Housby's time to shine.
The Englishwoman nailed successive two-pointers to give the Swifts some breathing space, before goaler Grace Nweke followed her lead by sinking four late goals.
"Full credit to the Mavericks, I thought they were brilliant today," said Housby, who hit 5-of-6 from two-point territory and had a game-high 26 assists.
"They really gave it to us and it took 60 minutes of really hard effort.
"I do like those (power-five) moments, but to be honest I thought I was pretty average through the game.
"Sometimes it takes a little bit to get me geed up.
"Those last five minutes with the super shots, that's a big part of my game and I think it brings up the rest of my game."
The Mavericks' front court was guilty of conceding early turnovers, while their defence struggled to contain Nweke and Housby as NSW marched ahead 18-12 at quarter-time.
The Swifts' advantage grew to 28-19 midway through the second period before Melbourne rallied.
Shimona Jok buried 17 goals without a miss for the term, Tayla Fraser impressed at wing attack and the Mavs finished the quarter on an 11-6 run to close the gap to 34-30 at halftime.
Skipper Amy Parmenter's connection with the super-efficient Jok was a feature as Melbourne maintained a 100 per cent gains-to-goals ratio to briefly pinch the lead in the third term, before Housby knocked down a pair of super shots to give NSW a 51-48 edge at three-quarter time.
Both sides were guilty of coughing up the ball with long, errant passes in the fourth term, while the penalties also began racking up for the Mavericks, who were valiant but faltered as the finish line approached.
