Swift action paves way for stunning super comeback win
The NSW Swifts have posted their eighth consecutive victory after storming from 10 goals down to beat the Adelaide Thunderbirds 66-64 at a heaving Ken Rosewall Arena.
The Swifts' unbeaten start to the Super Netball season looked certain to end after they fell behind 48-38 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Saturday night's clash.
A series of clutch super shots from Helen Housby helped close the margin to just three goals entering the final quarter, and the lead changed hands several times in a thrilling finale.
There were a number of defining moments in the dying minutes.
Housby's super shot with just over three minutes remaining gave the Swifts a two-goal buffer.
Swifts goalkeeper Sarah Klau (four gains, three intercepts) snared a vital intercept a short time later, and the home side secured the win by passing the ball around for the final 60 seconds to deny Adelaide the chance to level the scores.
Housby finished with 6-of-9 from super shot range, while Grace Nweke nailed 50 goals from 52 attempts.
Thunderbirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George converted 43 goals from 48 attempts.
The result ensured the Swifts (8-0) will finish the round either two or three wins clear on top of the ladder, while two-time defending premiers Adelaide slipped to a 4-4 record.
"I think it's pure relief we got the job done," Swifts coach Briony Akle told Fox Sports after the win.
"Coming out of halftime, I was a little bit worried coming off that 19-9 quarter. It wasn't good enough by us.
"But I'm so proud of them for that fightback in the second half."
Adelaide captain Hannah Petty praised her team's effort, despite not getting the win.
"It's disappointing not to get the win tonight, but it's given us a lot of belief we can do it," Petty said.
The Swifts took a 19-17 lead into quarter-time, but it was all the Thunderbirds in the second term as they stamped their authority on the match.
Adelaide outscored the Swifts 19-9 for the term, marking the first quarter this season that NSW have been kept to single digits.
Aiken-George scored her 9000th national league goal late in the first half, coming just a week after West Coast Fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fever-Nembhard became the first player to achieve the feat.
The momentum changed dramatically in the dying minutes of the third quarter courtesy of Housby's hot hand, and NSW came up with clutch plays when it mattered most in a see-sawing final term.
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