Garbin stars as Vixens top Mavericks in Melbourne derby
Star goalshooter Sophie Garbin has produced a match-winning display to ensure the Melbourne Vixens maintained full bragging rights over the Melbourne Mavericks with a 67-59 Super Netball win.
Garbin nailed 45 goals from 52 shots and Kiera Austin chipped in with 16 goals and three Super Shots to ensure the Vixens improved their head-to-head record against the Mavericks to 3-0.
Importantly, it squared up the Vixens' season record at 2-2, helping to make up for last week's 10-goal home loss to the West Coast Fever.
"I thought everyone did an amazing job," Garbin told Fox Sports after Sunday's match at John Cain Arena.
"I think for us, we've probably been focusing a bit too much on trying to change and have a bit of variety, whereas what we do best wins us games, and we got to the grand final last year doing that.
"Today was about coming out, having our own individual strengths and working to them.
"We know we've got a really tough month coming up with the Swifts, Lightning and Firebirds.
"It's going to be a really tough month, but getting the win today was the start of it."
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said a win over the team's cross-town rivals was always significant.
"It's a rivalry that's growing," McKinnis said.
"We don't want to get beaten by the Mavericks. You know that's something they really want.
"They fought really hard and they were going for it out there today."
McKinnis was full of praise for Garbin.
"That's Sophie at her best - when she's demanding that ball in that circle, and sometimes you'll hear her screaming for it," McKinnis said.
"She's so strong as a shooter, and when she's positioned and takes that on, no one can get near her. I enjoyed seeing that from Soph today."
The Mavericks are now 1-3 and face a battle to work their way back into the finals mix.
The opening quarter was an even affair, with the Vixens just doing enough to take a 16-15 lead into the first break.
It was late in the second quarter when the Vixens flexed their muscles.
The Mavericks trailed by just three goals entering the five-minute Super Shot period, but two long-range bombs from Austin helped inspire a 9-3 run to give the Vixens a 35-26 lead at half-time.
Although star Mavericks goalshooter Shimona Jok (43 goals from 47 attempts) was proving hard to stop, Vixens duo Garbin and Austin were just as lethal at the other end.
The lead swelled to 13 by late in the third quarter, with the Mavericks unable to launch any meaningful fightback.
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