The Melbourne Vixens have extended their unbeaten start to the Super Netball season with a 64-52 win over the GIANTS.
Last season's wooden spooners charged home in the fourth quarter of Saturday's clash at John Cain Arena to back up two impressive away victories and eclipse their win total (2) from a horror 2021 campaign.
The GIANTS (1-2) welcomed back Jamie-Lee Price, Sophie Dwyer and Amy Parmenter after the Diamonds trio missed round two due to COVID-19 protocols but the visitors struggled to keep pace with the Vixens in the final quarter.
A pair of intercepts from Jo Weston handed Melbourne the early ascendency as they established a 10-6 lead but the GIANTS steadied with Jo Harten's super shot helping reduce the Vixens' quarter-time advantage to 17-16.
With Kiera Austin and Kate Eddy imposing themselves on the contest, Melbourne dominated the second quarter to head into the main break ahead 33-27, Weston credited with five of the Vixens' 11 gains for the half.
Melbourne threatened to extend their lead into double-digits on two occasions in the third quarter but Dwyer intervened by scoring 10 of the GIANTS' 13 points for the term as the Vixens went into the final period ahead 46-40.
The physical nature of the game took its toll on the GIANTS as Melbourne pulled away in the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 16 points before a late furry of two-point goals from Harten.
"I thought the Vixens played beautifully, i thought they were faultless in so much that they did," said coach Julie Fitzgerald.
"If you start making mistakes like we did they capitalise on that and the score can blow out.
"I thought we were still in it going into that last quarter, but then we just couldn't get our hands on ball and we made a few silly mistakes and as I said, you can't afford to that against a team like Vixens."
Both teams will face a short turnaround now, with both seems set to play in round four on Tuesday.
