Superstar shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard produced another staggering performance, but West Coast Fever will sweat on a top-two position after ending the Melbourne Mavericks' hopes of a finals spot in their inaugural Super Netball season.
The Fever needed to win by 24 goals to overtake the Melbourne Vixens on percentage and to finish no lower than second and secure a double-chance in the finals, but finished five short, winning by 19 goals, 76-57.
The runaway leading scorer in the competition and eight-time league MVP Fowler-Nembhard (68/69) was again unstoppable.
Roared on by a record home crowd of 11,841 at Perth’s RAC Arena, Fever never trailed at any stage.
They were up by five and four at quarter- and half-time respectively. A 22-13 advantage in the third quarter gave them a 13-goal lead at three-quarter-time and an outside chance of getting the victory margin required to go above the Vixens, who had won earlier on Saturday.
They never really threatened in the fourth, despite an 8-0 run to end the game.
West Coast must hope defending champions Adelaide, who have a superior percentage to both the Vixens and themselves, lose at home to Sunshine Coast on Sunday, because a Thunderbirds win would secure them top spot and drop Fever to third.
The heavy loss ensured the Mavericks would finish fifth, with Sunshine Coast Lightning fourth.
It was a third straight win for early-season pacesetters the Fever, who won their first six matches, before dropping three of their next five.
Jamaican Fowler-Nembhard scored all but one off her team’s 33 first-half goals, making 32 straight shots before her only miss 16 seconds into the second half.
“My team they work so hard, so I shouldn’t be missing any shots,” Fowler-Nembhard told Fox Sports.
“Kudos to the girls, they worked really hard today and all I could do is shoot goals.”
Fever (11-3) claimed all 10 rebounds in the match, with Fowler-Nembhard grabbing four, and three defenders combining to collect the other six.
Wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld and defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney were also strong for the Fever.
Captain and midcourter Amy Parmenter and shooter Shimona Jok (30/34) were among the Mavericks' best players.
The Mavericks (6-8) lost their first three games and four of their first five, but went 4-3 over the second half of their campaign.
Coach Tracy Neville lamented the fact her side lost all six of their games against the top three teams.
“All season the basic errors let you down, and (against) the top three sides that's absolutely crucified us,” former England head coach Neville told Fox Sports after the match.
“I hate losing and I always want to be in finals, which is gutting - I think it's the first time as a coach I’ve not really been there.”
