The Firebirds made a bright start in a competitive first quarter against the unbeaten defending Suncorp Super Netball premiers, but the Vixens were unstoppable for the remainder of the game as they raced to a 71-48 win.
Queensland were only down by two at the end of the first term but an eight-goal second term loss left them facing a second-half mountain against a Vixens team that is yet to drop a match this season.
With New Zealand international Kelly Jackson standing tall in defence, the Firebirds actually forced plenty of turnovers off the Vixens in the third term but failed to capitalise as the hosts extended their lead despite the visitors' improved efforts.
Chasing a significant deficit, the Firebirds were guilty of overplaying their hand as the Vixens stormed home in the final quarter, winning it by 12 to race to a dominant win.
Despite back-to-back 20-point plus losses after last week's 24-point defeat at Adelaide, Firebirds coach Kiri Wills is vowing to keep battling in the remainder of the season to chase a possible finals berth.
"These top teams will punish you if you're inconsistent and that's what we've seen the last two rounds," Wills said.
"But we're sort of back in that bottom end mix in the next couple of weeks, so it's probably an opportunity to rectify ourselves and have another look at how we're going against probably sides that have similar concerns as us.
"We've got to fight it out, and we're still within striking distance, but every game that we lose, we get further away, but we're not giving up."
The Firebirds will look to get their season back on track next weekend when they host the winless GIANTS Netball at Nissan Arena on Saturday, May 16 in the club's annual Pride Match.
