A SECOND-half fightback wasn’t enough for the Queensland Firebirds as they lost Saturday’s Suncorp Super Netball derby clash with Sunshine Coast Lightning at Nissan Arena.
Trailing by 18 at halftime, the Firebirds won the third and fourth quarters but weren’t able to avoid losing 65-55 to their Queensland rivals.
The defeat means the Lightning claim the Queensland Cup which was presented after the game in front of a bumper crowd of 3787.
The Lightning’s first half blitz led to the visitors shooting 100 per cent inside the circle with Australian duo Cara Koenen and Steph Wood helping Sunshine Coast hold a 39-21 advantage at the main break.
Former Lightning player Ash Unie came off the bench at the start of the second quarter to become Firebird No.108 in her club debut in purple.
Unie was joined on the court at the start of the second half by fellow substitutes Macy Gardner and Emily Moore as Head Coach Bec Bulley rung the changes.
The newcomers provided a spark of energy as the Firebirds surged to outscore the Lightning 18-15 with Emily Moore hitting two Suncorp Super Shots.
The Firebirds then finished the game by outscoring the Lightning 16-11 in the final term.
Donnell Wallam finished the game with 40 goals from 47 attempts including one Suncorp Super Shot.
Moore, in her second SSN game, scored six of 11 goals including her two Super Shots while Mia Stower scored five goals from eight attempts.
Defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran led the way for the Firebirds in a four quarter-effort, picking up 92.5 Nissan NetPoints including seven gains, six deflections and five intercepts.
Gardner was also impressive in her half of play, recording 65 Nissan NetPoints, 12 goal assists and 19 feeds.
Lara Dunkley meanwhile recorded 13 goal assists and 29 feeds in her four-quarter effort.
The Firebirds head to Sydney next weekend to take on the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena in their first away game of the season on Saturday, April 1.
