Star shooter Jhaniele Fowler has played through the pain barrier to ensure the West Coast Fever were spared the anguish of yet another Super Netball stalemate.
The Jamaican international was hampered by a knee injury during the Fever's home clash with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, but the discomfort dissipated when she nailed the decisive goal of a 53-52 nailbiter at RAC Arena on Saturday.
Sixth-placed West Coast were on the verge of recording a fourth draw in the competition until Fowler recorded her 47th goal from 48 attempts to cap the Fever's recovery from a 7-16 deficit at the end of the opening quarter.
The sloppy beginning included 11 turnovers but the introduction of Alice Teague-Neeld as Fowler's foil in the second quarter caused a momentum shift.
West Coast outscored the Thunderbirds 18-11 in the second term before the contest settled into an arm wrestle.
"There's certainly grit, there's determination and there's a way in which we can play," said relieved Fever coach Stacey Marinkovich.
"It wasn't the start that we wanted but we changed the line-up and it didn't necessarily work in that quarter.
"But the defensive pressure was back from our side and that was something we'll definitely take into the coming weeks."
Maria Folau scored 33 goals from 38 attempts for the seventh-placed Thunderbirds while Sasha Glasgow (19/22) also placed the Fever's circle defence under pressure.
Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst was frustrated after her side slipped from a dominant position.
"I'm really pleased of what we did put out there but we'll need to go back and have a look at some things that we can tidy up to be better for next week," she said.
