A devastating two-point shooting display from Sasha Glasgow has helped West Coast Fever set a new Super Netball record for the highest score in a game in their lopsided 97-63 victory over Queensland Firebirds.
Just hours after the NSW Swifts came agonisingly close to eclipsing the league’s record tally of 86 goals, set by Fever in 2022, Glasgow fired in 14 Super shots at RAC Arena on Sunday as the home side returned to form following a pair of gut-wrenching one-goal losses.
Bolstered by the return of Glasgow and Jess Anstiss, a full-strength West Coast set the scene for their record-breaking charge with 27 goals in the opening quarter – the largest-scoring quarter from any team this season – before going on to win by a gaping 34 goals.
Glasgow, who missed last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Swifts due to COVID-19 protocols, felt a good week of training had put her in a great position to play her best netball on her return to action.
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“Yeah, COVID definitely hit me good but … I was actually so eager to come out. I couldn’t wait for game day, it was such a good feeling,” Glasgow said after recording 15 goals and 17 goal assists to go with her two-point goal blitz.
Glasgow heaped praise on teammate Jhaniele Fowler, the league’s leading goal scorer for five straight seasons, for contributing to her performance while adding 53 goals.
“We’ve just been working so hard for our Super shot attack and just connecting the ends together. I can’t do my job without (Jhaniele) and she really looked for me today and made my job easy,” Glasgow said.
Languishing in seventh spot with two wins for the season, Queensland was facing a tough assignment against the defending champions with former captain Gabi Simpson sidelined through injury.
The loss of Simpson’s experience from their defensive set-up became evident early as Fever skipped out to a 27-17 advantage after one quarter then doubled its lead to 20 by half-time, with Fowler becoming the first player to exceed 500 goals for the season in a 50-30 start for the home side.
The Firebirds enjoyed their best period in the third quarter, with Mia Stower linking well with Donnel Wallam in attack, but were still outscored 21-18 for the term as West Coast secured its seventh win of the season to regain third place on the ladder from Melbourne Vixens.
A rolled ankle to centre Verity Simmons in the final quarter will be the only concern for Fever ahead of a crucial away clash with ladder leaders Adelaide next Saturday.
-AAP
