Bright Moments for GIANTS in Narrow Loss to Vixens
The Melbourne Vixens delivered a clinical performance to defeat the GIANTS 61-55 at a packed John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Keen to make amends for a lacklustre showing against the Thunderbirds last week, the Vixens delivered a polished display on home soil to take their first win of the season.
Vixens stalwart Jo Weston celebrated her 150th national league appearance today and saw plenty of the ball.
Starting in goal keeper, Weston read the game well from the back and delivered an impressive milestone performance, finishing with 3 gains and 2 rebounds.
The Vixens were slow out of the gate and the GIANTS pounced.
They were humming in attack, with rookie Hope White getting her first SSN start in wing attack after an impressive round 1 debut.
Erin O’Brien built on last week’s form, shutting down Sophie Garbin under the post early.
Jo Harten showed no hesitation in the first power five, firing in two super shots.
The away team took a 15-11 lead into quarter time.
But a rejuvenated Vixens outfit wasted no time in clawing back the deficit.
They took an 8-1 lead to open the second quarter, connecting down the court and forcing a handful of GIANTS turnovers.
A vocal Melbourne crowd roared to life to help wrestle back momentum.
Winning the quarter 20-9, the Vixens went into the main break with a comfortable 31-24 lead.
It was a similar story of vastly different opening quarters for the GIANTS in round 1, and they’ll be looking for consistency as the season progresses.
The third quarter was a tussle for possession, and the teams went goal-for-goal until the GIANTS gained some momentum late in the quarter.
They managed to close the gap and headed into the final break trailing 45-42.