Thunderbirds storm home

The Adelaide Thunderbirds stormed home to defeat a brave West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championship in Adelaide on Sunday.

The hosts were out to protect their second-placing on the Championship ladder, as well as a perfect record against the Fever since the competition's inception, and they did just that running out 54-45 winners.

Caitlin Bassett was well contained early by the Thunderbirds defence, but the smaller Leah Shoard shone through with a perfect strike rate in the opening stanza.

At the opposite end of the court, Carla Borrego wasted opportunities to put Adelaide further in front, instead the Thunderbirds settled for a one-goal quarter-time lead.

The home side threatened to go clear when they shot out to a five-goal lead early in the second-quarter, but not to be denied, the Fever edged their way back into with clever court movement to square the ledger at 25-all at the main break, courtesy of Shoard and Bassett working well together up front.

The battle continued into the third, with either team giving in, although both shooters were not finding the net as often as they should have been, due to pressure applied from the respective goalkeepers in the Thunderbirds' Geva Mentor, and the Fever's Susan Fuhrmann.

At three-quarter time, the scores were again level at 36 apiece, before Adelaide roared home to secure second spot on the ANZ Championship table.