The Queensland Firebirds have produced their most clinical performance of the season to date to defeat reigning Premiers the NSW Swifts 77-64 at Nissan Arena.
A scintillating performance by Goal Attack Tippah Dwan, in which she broke the single game record for most Nissan Net Points previously held by her mentor Gretel Bueta, led the home team to a dominant 13 goal victory.
Dwan has been threatening to deliver a match winning performance for weeks and Saturday was the day she landed it, with 21 feeds, 14 assists and 26 points including eight super shots.
The 20-year-old said she and her teammates were thrilled to close out a full four quarter performance.
“We really wanted to just go out there and put up a good fight form the opening centre pass tonight,” Dwan said.
“I think our combinations are just building with each game so it could be a really amazing thing the longer we stay together.”
As for her individual form, Dwan said it was just a matter of confidence.
“The girls have faith in me to take those shots which has a huge influence on my confidence and enables me to just turn and shoot.”
The Firebirds, with 4 of their starting 7 younger than 24, produced a performance well beyond their years and experience, as they outclassed the defending premiers in front of a rapturous Purple Family crowd.
Romelda Aiken’s resurgent form also continued, with the Jamaican international registering more than 40 goals for the fifth consecutive game.
The prime movers for the win though were the younger tier, with Dwan’s game complemented by another standout performance from Mahalia Cassidy, and a breakout match for Lara Dunkley at Wing Attack.
Dunkley was particularly impressive in a rare start, prompting Swifts coach Briony Akle to switch Paige Hadley from centre to wing defence to curb her influence.
The reputation of defensive combination Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner also took another leap, with the pair combining for 3 intercepts and 6 deflections to take all momentum away from Swifts shooters Sam Wallace and Helen Housby.
Head Coach Roselee Jencke OAM was full of praise for her team post-match, expressing her pride in their strength and execution.
“We had to stand up tonight and be stronger than we were the last time we met Swifts,” Jencke said.
"I was so proud of the entire group tonight, they weren't pushed around the court and they really held their own which enabled us to execute the basics and take the game away from the Swifts."
The Firebirds will now prepare for their first away trip of the season, as they fly to Adelaide to face the Thunderbirds in Round 11 at Priceline Stadium on Wednesday night.
