West Coast Fever have celebrated Romelda Aiken-George's milestone match in style with a thrilling four-point victory over Queensland Firebirds in Perth.
The Fever's veteran goaler notched her 250th national league appearance in a 58-54 win against the Firebirds, with Diamonds legend Catherine Cox's all-time mark of 254 games in sight.
Aged 37, Aiken-George received the call to line up at her fourth Super club, having played 197 games, including winning three titles, with Sunday's opponents.
She was signed for her 19th season after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard announced her pregnancy, with that fellow Jamaican great giving birth to a boy this week.
While the volume was down on her usual sky-high contribution, four-time premiership winner Aiken-George added 34 goals.
Scores were level at 15-15 at quarter-time but the Fever's insertion of Olivia Wilkinson in the second term paid dividends, adding two valuable super shots.
The Perth side held a 32-29 halftime lead but another two super shots by Wilkinson and eight goals by Aiken-George helped the 2025 grand finalists kick away to a 12-point lead.
Queensland lifted to pile pressure on the Fever, who have struggled of late in the final quarter.
While the Firebirds won the last quarter by 16 goals to eight, the hosts were able to hang on for their third straight win.
Mary Cholhok led the scoring for Queensland, though she only managed 33 goals from 51 attempts
Fever centre Zoe Cransberg said she was relieved her team were able to hold off their fast-finishing rivals.
"It wasn't the best finish from us," she told Kayo Sports.
"I think we knew the Firebirds were going to come at us and two-point shooting is a big strength of theirs and I think we were hoping to go goal for goal, but it just didn't quite work in the end.
"Just happy to get the win in that game."
