With Mary Cholhok scoring 42 goals at 85.7 per cent shooting, and Isabelle Shearer shining in defence, the Firebirds defeated the Fever 67-54 in front of 4526 fans – a record crowd for a first home game of the season at Nissan Arena.
Shearer would end the match with a whopping six gains, two intercepts and four deflections while defensive partner Ruby Bakewell-Doran had four gains and five deflections.
Emily Moore was also a standout, scoring 16 goals and a Suncorp Super Shot in an impressive display at goal attack.
The win means the Firebirds head into the Easter break with a perfect two win, zero loss record under Kiri Wills.
Saturday’s game began with the Firebirds making a fast start with the opening three goals of the match.
The game tightened up throughout the quarter before Bakewell-Doran had to take a break after taking a heavy fall following a collision with Fever’s Shanice Beckford, but rookie Ashlee Barnett came on and had a role in the Firebirds racing to a five-point lead at the first break.
The Firebirds ended the quarter with 100 per cent shooting, Cholhok hitting 15 of 15 shots while Moore was perfect with her four attempts on goal.
Shearer then recorded several intercepts to start the second quarter as the Firebirds stormed to a 10-goal lead heading into the power five.
Bakewell-Doran’s deflection led to a Tippah Dwan Suncorp Super Shot before Dwan nailed another two-pointer on the buzzer to send the Firebirds into the break leading by 13 points.
That margin blew out to 15 in the third quarter with a two-pointer on the siren by Moore ensuring the Firebirds went into the final turn well in control.
The visitors rallied in the final term, reducing the margin to 10 goals at one point but more great defensive work by Shearer steadied the hosts who saw out the match in style to the cheers of the home crowd.
The Firebirds next match is on the road against Queensland rivals Sunshine Coast Lightning on April 26 at UniSC Stadium.
