THE Sunshine Coast claimed a slice of netball history with their first-ever win at their first-ever home game in the rousing 58-52 victory over the Melbourne Vixens.
The Lightning are undefeated after two rounds of Suncorp Super Netball with a draw and a win to their name and they sent the 2003 spectators at the University of the Sunshine Coast into raptures when the fulltime siren sounded.
Goal shooter Caitlin Bassett was the star of the show with 50 goals from 54 attempts for the Lightning who are backed by NRL powerhouse, the Melbourne Storm.
The Lightning hit the front in the third quarter and extended their lead to nine goals with four minutes left in the term as the Vixens got fumbly and frustrated and the home side could do no wrong.
Mwai Kumwenda was unable to power the Melbourne Vixens past the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Picture: Jono SearleSource:News Corp Australia
The Sunshine Coast led 43-37 at three-quarter after a 14-goal blitz from Bassett to put the home side in charge.
The Lightning led the Firebirds by seven goals at the last change in Round 1 but succumb to a stunning comeback from the reigning champions and had to settle for a draw.
Melbourne got to within four goals of the Lightning twice in the final quarter but the Lightning were not to be denied.
Cara Koenen added seven goals for the Sunshine Coast while Melbourne’s shooters Mwai Kumwenda (28/36) and Tegan Philip (24/30) were on top early but were well contained by
the dogged Sunshine Coast defence.
The teams were locked together at 27-all at halftime with the Lightning surging home in the dying minutes of the second term.
The Sunshine Coast got off to another nervous start and found themselves down 4-1 after the opening salvos.
Lightning coach Noeline Taurua replaced wing attack Laura Scherian with ex-Vixen Kelsey Browne midway through the first quarter and the move had an immediate impact.
Browne was aggressive and direct in a busy performance to spark the home side and she had seven goal assists and 14 feeds by halftime.
Lightning claimed their first ever victory on home ground.Source:Getty Images
The Vixens led 15-12 at quarter-time but the Lightning were coming.
The Sunshine Coast turned up the heat defensively and drew level with Melbourne in the dying minutes of the first half with the vocal near-capacity crowd at Sippy Downs getting behind the region’s first-ever national sporting team.
Lightning captain Geva Mentor and defensive partner Karla Mostert recovered after a slow start as the Sunshine Coast was able to stifle Melbourne’s ball movement through the midcourt.
Bassett was the one constant for the Lightning with 22 goals from 23 attempts in the first half.
She put the Lightning in front for the first time early in the third quarter with her 26th goal.
Originally published as Vixens on end of historic Lightning win
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