Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald has praised her team's composure after they survived a massive scare in downing the Adelaide Thunderbirds 49-47 in a Super Netball nailbiter at Priceline Stadium.
Ahead by five goals with less than five minutes to play, the Giants' lead was whittled down to one inside the final 35 seconds as Erin Bell got on a roll, before Jo Harten milked the final play to avert a last-minute disaster.
The result has the Giants placed second on the ladder, with an impressive 6-1 record in games decided by five goals or less.
"I'm really proud of the way we keep fighting our way out of these really tight games," Fitzgerald said.
"That's something you've got to be happy with, that we keep the composure to win these games that are so tight."
Underdogs Adelaide looked switched on early, surprising the Giants with a 9-7 springboard before the visitors replied with unanswered goals amid a 10-2 burst to take help the Giants to an 18-12 lead during the second period.
The momentum swung again, back to the Thunderbirds, who registered seven straight goals to draw three clear, Sasha Glasgow enjoying a purple patch and Chelsea Pitman in commanding form.
The Giants called a tactical timeout and clambered back some ground and drew level at 24-all at halftime.
The third quarter was goal for goal but Adelaide stagnated a little late and the Giants led 37-35 at the final break with Brice too big and strong in attack.
Brice continued to prove too powerful for Ama Agbeze in the fourth quarter as the Giants appeared to be getting on top until a late Adelaide rally thrilled the vocal, patient home crowd but it wasn't quite enough to avoid a 10th consecutive defeat.
Despite the loss, Thunderbirds coach Dan Ryan was buoyed by the fact that his side matched it with one of the league's pacesetters for 60 minutes.
"We forced GWS in to lots of errors and made them play quite ugly netball at times," he said.
"I felt that everyone contributed when they were out here.
"That's what we haven't had in previous matches.
"Today it was there and as a result we fell only two goals short to one of the best teams in the competition."
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