Latest news with #Koenen
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Lethal Lightning strike extends netball derby dominance
Sunshine Coast Lightning have consolidated their spot in the Super Netball top four and maintained their derby stranglehold with a 72-62 win over the Queensland Firebirds. Cara Koenen buried 54 goals without a miss at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Saturday night, combining superbly with wing attack Liz Watson to put the Firebirds' defence under constant pressure. The victory was the Lightning's seventh in a row against Queensland and improved their overall head-to-head dominance to 15-4 with one draw. "I've finally sorted out the ones under the post, thankfully," Koenen laughed after her flawless performance. "Our ball speed is what kills defence ends. "I'm very happy to work my way out the front, but I've also got some awesome playmakers in Liz and Steph (Fretwell)." With Koenen and Watson firing in attack and gun stopper Courtney Bruce, in her 150th game, rampant at the other end, Sunshine Coast looked like taking control from the outset as the Firebirds became turnover- and penalty-plagued. Macy Garnder led a 6-1 Queensland recovery to pinch the lead, before Fretwell's super shot on the quarter-time siren gave the Lightning an 18-17 edge. Koenen and Watson's peerless connection, combined with Leesa Mi Mi's playmaking out of the centre, saw the visitors increase their lead to 37-33 at the half. The Firebirds unravelled in the third term, misfiring badly in attack, bossed through the middle and out of answers for Koenen, who hit 17 more goals. They were outscored 20-13 for the period to trail 57-46 with a quarter to play. Goaler Mary Cholhok (24 goals from 25 shots) inspired Queensland to a 7-2 start to the fourth and the Firebirds, seeking to snap a six-game losing streak, could sniff an upset as the margin closed to seven. But the Lightning rallied once more, Bruce's rejection of Emily Moore's two-pointer late leading to Koenen's 54th straight goal on the full-time bell. Sunshine Coast Lightning have consolidated their spot in the Super Netball top four and maintained their derby stranglehold with a 72-62 win over the Queensland Firebirds. Cara Koenen buried 54 goals without a miss at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Saturday night, combining superbly with wing attack Liz Watson to put the Firebirds' defence under constant pressure. The victory was the Lightning's seventh in a row against Queensland and improved their overall head-to-head dominance to 15-4 with one draw. "I've finally sorted out the ones under the post, thankfully," Koenen laughed after her flawless performance. "Our ball speed is what kills defence ends. "I'm very happy to work my way out the front, but I've also got some awesome playmakers in Liz and Steph (Fretwell)." With Koenen and Watson firing in attack and gun stopper Courtney Bruce, in her 150th game, rampant at the other end, Sunshine Coast looked like taking control from the outset as the Firebirds became turnover- and penalty-plagued. Macy Garnder led a 6-1 Queensland recovery to pinch the lead, before Fretwell's super shot on the quarter-time siren gave the Lightning an 18-17 edge. Koenen and Watson's peerless connection, combined with Leesa Mi Mi's playmaking out of the centre, saw the visitors increase their lead to 37-33 at the half. The Firebirds unravelled in the third term, misfiring badly in attack, bossed through the middle and out of answers for Koenen, who hit 17 more goals. They were outscored 20-13 for the period to trail 57-46 with a quarter to play. Goaler Mary Cholhok (24 goals from 25 shots) inspired Queensland to a 7-2 start to the fourth and the Firebirds, seeking to snap a six-game losing streak, could sniff an upset as the margin closed to seven. But the Lightning rallied once more, Bruce's rejection of Emily Moore's two-pointer late leading to Koenen's 54th straight goal on the full-time bell. Sunshine Coast Lightning have consolidated their spot in the Super Netball top four and maintained their derby stranglehold with a 72-62 win over the Queensland Firebirds. Cara Koenen buried 54 goals without a miss at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Saturday night, combining superbly with wing attack Liz Watson to put the Firebirds' defence under constant pressure. The victory was the Lightning's seventh in a row against Queensland and improved their overall head-to-head dominance to 15-4 with one draw. "I've finally sorted out the ones under the post, thankfully," Koenen laughed after her flawless performance. "Our ball speed is what kills defence ends. "I'm very happy to work my way out the front, but I've also got some awesome playmakers in Liz and Steph (Fretwell)." With Koenen and Watson firing in attack and gun stopper Courtney Bruce, in her 150th game, rampant at the other end, Sunshine Coast looked like taking control from the outset as the Firebirds became turnover- and penalty-plagued. Macy Garnder led a 6-1 Queensland recovery to pinch the lead, before Fretwell's super shot on the quarter-time siren gave the Lightning an 18-17 edge. Koenen and Watson's peerless connection, combined with Leesa Mi Mi's playmaking out of the centre, saw the visitors increase their lead to 37-33 at the half. The Firebirds unravelled in the third term, misfiring badly in attack, bossed through the middle and out of answers for Koenen, who hit 17 more goals. They were outscored 20-13 for the period to trail 57-46 with a quarter to play. Goaler Mary Cholhok (24 goals from 25 shots) inspired Queensland to a 7-2 start to the fourth and the Firebirds, seeking to snap a six-game losing streak, could sniff an upset as the margin closed to seven. But the Lightning rallied once more, Bruce's rejection of Emily Moore's two-pointer late leading to Koenen's 54th straight goal on the full-time bell.
West Australian
11-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Koenen stars as Lightning thrash struggling Giants
Sunshine Coast Lightning have brought the Giants crashing back to earth, with star goal shooter Cara Koenen producing a career-best display in a 74-56 Super Netball win at UniSC Arena. Koenen scored a career-high 56 goals from 62 attempts in Sunday's match to help lead her team to the comprehensive victory. The Giants committed a whopping 25 turnovers - including 10 alone from goal attack Sophie Dwyer - as the Lightning made them pay. It was 62-40 by three-quarter time before the Lightning eased up in the final quarter. The result improved Sunshine Coast's record to 3-2, while the Giants are 1-4 and equal bottom of the ladder alongside the Melbourne Mavericks. Sunday's result was all the more disappointing for the Giants given they had upset defending champions Adelaide 64-63 a week earlier. "We had a disappointing loss last week in the West (against the Fever). I'm proud of what we put out on court today," Koenen told Fox Sports. "It (the win) was all down to work rate. There were repeated efforts every time. "Our defensive end has been doing an amazing job, so we (the attackers) are just looking to convert on our end." After a relatively even first quarter, the Giants went to the first break only down by three goals. The Lightning's lead stretched to nine by half-time, but it was the third quarter that really broke the Giants' spirit. Buoyed by Koenen's hot hand, the Lightning won the quarter 23-10 to put the contest to bed. Giants shooter Matisse Letherbarrow ended the match with six Super Shots to her name from eight attempts in an impressive display. But the Giants' numerous turnovers meant no amount of hot shooting could save them.
Perth Now
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Koenen stars as Lightning thrash struggling Giants
Sunshine Coast Lightning have brought the Giants crashing back to earth, with star goal shooter Cara Koenen producing a career-best display in a 74-56 Super Netball win at UniSC Arena. Koenen scored a career-high 56 goals from 62 attempts in Sunday's match to help lead her team to the comprehensive victory. The Giants committed a whopping 25 turnovers - including 10 alone from goal attack Sophie Dwyer - as the Lightning made them pay. It was 62-40 by three-quarter time before the Lightning eased up in the final quarter. The result improved Sunshine Coast's record to 3-2, while the Giants are 1-4 and equal bottom of the ladder alongside the Melbourne Mavericks. The tip and the back up 🔥Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 11, 2025 Sunday's result was all the more disappointing for the Giants given they had upset defending champions Adelaide 64-63 a week earlier. "We had a disappointing loss last week in the West (against the Fever). I'm proud of what we put out on court today," Koenen told Fox Sports. "It (the win) was all down to work rate. There were repeated efforts every time. "Our defensive end has been doing an amazing job, so we (the attackers) are just looking to convert on our end." After a relatively even first quarter, the Giants went to the first break only down by three goals. The Lightning's lead stretched to nine by half-time, but it was the third quarter that really broke the Giants' spirit. Buoyed by Koenen's hot hand, the Lightning won the quarter 23-10 to put the contest to bed. Giants shooter Matisse Letherbarrow ended the match with six Super Shots to her name from eight attempts in an impressive display. But the Giants' numerous turnovers meant no amount of hot shooting could save them.
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball Round Three: Super shooters headline team of the week, have your say
A stunning comeback from West Coast Fever star Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard trumped her fellow Jamaican Shimona Jok to snare the goal shooter's spot in a superstar collection of goalers in Code Netball's team of the week. Fowler-Nembhard led Fever to their first victory of the year as she claimed MVP honours in her first game of the season after personal heartache. The five-time Super Netball player of the year finished her return match with 59 goals from 60 attempts. Jok went close after an MVP showing herself in her 100th national league match in the first half of the split round on Easter Sunday, while Swifts superstar Grace Nweke notched 48 goals, to give her a three-match average of just under 50. Diamonds shooter Cara Koenen had her best game of the season to help Sunshine Coast Lightning snap the Queensland Firebirds' unbeaten start to the year in a stellar celebration of her 100th game. Koenen snared MVP honours in the Queensland derby on Saturday, finishing with 41 points from 39-of-44 shooting, including two successful super shots that swished through the net to the roar of the crowd. After making just one super shot attempt last year, Koenen finished with two-from-two from long range.
Perth Now
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Lightning crush Firebirds in Queensland netball derby
Sunshine Coast have celebrated the 100-game milestones of Cara Koenen and Mahalia Cassidy in grand style, posting a crushing 64-50 Super Netball win over rivals Queensland Firebirds. The Firebirds entered Saturday's match at UniSC Arena with a perfect 2-0 record and keen to turn around a five-match losing streak to the Lightning. But it was the Lightning who burst out of the blocks, with Koenen superb in attack and Ashleigh Ervin a rock in defence. Koenen nailed 37-of-42 to go along with 2-2 from Super Shot range, while Ervin tallied four intercepts and 12 gains. Firebirds goalshooter Mary Cholhok endured an off night, shooting 22-of-29 amidst a constant struggle to impose herself under the tight attention of Ervin. "That was amazing. It was such a special occasion. It was a real team effort to get that win today," Ervin told Fox Sports after the match. "We really played for those two (Koenen and Ervin) today. They've been absolutely amazing for our club." The result left both the Lightning and Firebirds with 2-1 records. Cholhok couldn't get near it early, with her first shot not coming until midway through the first quarter. The scoreboard already read 10-4 in favour of Sunshine Coast by that stage, and the margin extended to seven goals a short time later. Cholhok went on a mini run to help close the margin back to four goals by quarter-time, and the Firebirds closed to within one goal with just four minutes left in the first half. But the Super Shot period proved invaluable for the Lightning, with Steph Fretwell finding her range to inspire an 8-2 run as Sunshine Coast soared to a 33-26 lead by halftime. The lead extended to 11 goals early in the third quarter as Sunshine Coast took complete control of the match, and there was no letting up in the last period. Koenen sent the home crowd wild with consecutive Super Shots in the dying moments of the match. "It's really special, doing 100 games is no small feat in itself, and doing it for one club - I'm really proud," Koenen said.
