Rampant West Coast Fever have stretched their Super Netball winning streak to a competition record-equalling nine straight after defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 68-63 at RAC Arena.
A powerful start and a strong finish in Perth on Friday night allowed the Fever to move prohibitively into top spot, edging past the NSW Swifts, who can reclaim first position by beating the Giants on Sunday.
Wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld racked up game-highs of 34 feeds and 18 assists, combining magnificently with powerhouse Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who buried 63 goals.
"That was a hectic battle," Teague-Neeld said after the match.
"I feel like there's no option other than to step up in those close contests.
"It's really hard to put out a four-quarter, 60-minute performance and always be on top, especially against a team like the Thunderbirds.
"We knew it was going to dip a little bit, but we got out of it in the last quarter, which is great."
West Coast raced out of the blocks, piloted by superstar shooter Fowler-Nembhard's 18 goals without a miss and Teague-Neeld's work rate.
At the other end, defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney curbed the impact of Jamaican teammate and Thunderbirds goaler Romelda Aiken-George to push the Fever ahead 20-14 at quarter-time.
At the break, Adelaide coach Tania Obst eyeballed her underperforming front court and said: "How's our talk out there, because it looks like we don't like one another."
The Thunderbirds responded to the spray with a much-improved second term.
Sanmarie Visser replaced Sophie Casey at wing attack and briefly slowed the rampant Teague-Neeld, while Aiken-George started getting the better of Dehaney.
Meanwhile, Lauren Frew caught fire from long range to trim the margin to 36-32 at halftime.
Adelaide's fightback continued in the third quarter, led by Frew, who got on a roll from super-shot territory.
In a frenetic finish to the term, Frew gave the Thunderbirds their first lead with her sixth super shot, then a two-point lead when she nailed her seventh two-pointer - from eight attempts - with seven seconds left.
West Coast quickly raced up-court and found Fowler-Nembhard, who fired a rare deuce on the three-quarter-time to square it at 51-51.
It was still neck-and-neck through most of the fourth quarter, before the Thunderbirds lost their way late.
Frew suddenly couldn't find her radar from range, while a couple of crucial Adelaide cough-ups were capitalised on by the Fever with a late 6-1 surge.
