MELBOURNE Vixens unleashed a blistering second half to overwhelm the Giants by 20 goals in their Tuesday night Super Netball clash at Brisbane's Nissan Arena.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After a tight opening half which saw the Vixens lead by just five goals at the main break, a scintillating third term saw the Vixens restrict the Giants to just eight goals for the quarter.
It was the lowest single-quarter score thus far in 2020 for the Giants, who succumbed to the ladder-leading Vixens 73-53.
At the other end of the court, the Vixens' three-pronged shooting attack continued their devastating season form.
Mwai Kumwenda scored a game-high 32 goals, and was ably supported by Bendigo's Caitlin Thwaites, who hit 20 of 23 attempts at 87 per cent, and Tegan Philip (17/21).
All three players spent approximately 40 minutes on court, shooting at between 81 and 91 per cent.
Thwaites again started in the goal attack position, before moving to shooter mid-way through the third term.
After the Vixens progressed their season record to eight wins from nine games, coach Simone McKinnis said she was pleased by the all-round performance put out on court by her team to commence round 9 of the condensed Super Netball season.
"I was really pleased," McKinnis reiterated.
"I thought we had a really good start so there was really good intent and purpose when we hit the court.
"We had to actually work really hard the whole way through the game. I know the (margin) was 20 in the end, but it didn't feel like that - it was hard work every step of the way, but I was really pleased with their work and their composure across the game."
Despite rotating three, capable long-range shooters throughout their circle, now past the halfway point of the 2020 season, the Vixens are using the Super Shot sparingly.
"Certainly, we're quite capable of shooting twos and we don't have any hard and fast rule about when to and when not to," she said.
"It's about the shooters and how they feel and what they're seeing in the game, but I think just generally not panicking as a team because the opposition's getting two points and closing the gap.
"I think we had quite a lead and then all of a sudden, it's one point, so it's just that mindset of not getting panicked by it."
Vixens co-captain Liz Watson was named the game's MVP, after finishing with 33 goal assists and 48 feeds.
The Vixens will now enjoy a three-day break before taking on the West Coast Fever on Saturday to kick off round 10.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.