An Alice Teague-Neeld-less West Coast Fever have shaken off the loss of their inform playmaker to defeat Melbourne Mavericks 59-47 in Super Netball.
Having never lost to the Mavericks in a regular-season game, the Fever kept their perfect streak intact at John Cain Arena on Sunday after a scintillating opening quarter.
Melbourne coughed up a sea of turnovers and their coach Gerard Murphy was left fuming, urging his team to flick a switch as they trailed 20-7 at quarter time.
After moving Jamaican international Shimona Nelson and goal attack Reilley Batcheldor to the bench, the Mavericks settled and by midway through the fourth quarter had cut the deficit to five goals.
But the Fever (5-1), buoyed by their star goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George (50 goals from 57 shots), held strong to claim their fourth successive Super Netball win.
It came after their star feeder and goal assist Teague-Neeld was scratched late after complaining of back soreness.
Centre Zoe Cransberg (34 feeds, 21 goal assists, one gain) was prolific in the Diamonds hopeful's absence, while defender Fran Williams grabbed 11 gains and five interceptions to help the Fever sit equal with Adelaide Thunderbirds (20 points) on the ladder.
For the Mavericks (2-4), Jamie-Lee Price was typically inspirational with 40 feeds, 18 goal assists, and two gains, while the inform Jessie Grenvold had five gains and three interceptions.
Both teams traded goals early, but the Fever pounced on the Mavericks' error-riddled attack to go on an 11-1 run, and balloon their advantage to 13 points at quarter time.
Melbourne calmed in the second quarter and finished the period trailing 33-21.
Lee Price continued to heat up after halftime as Nelson returned and found her groove to move the Mavericks within five points, but the Fever netted a flurry of late goals to secure victory.
