Vixens strike late to end Thunderbirds' title reign
The Vixens led by four goals with three minutes remaining in Sunday's match at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre before the Thunderbirds launched a frenzied late comeback.
Thunderbirds youngster Kayla Graham snared a vital intercept to spark the run, with two Super Shots from Georgie Horjus catapulting Adelaide to the lead with two minutes remaining.
But there were a couple more twists to come.
Vixens sharpshooter Kiera Austin nailed a Super Shot to grab back the lead, before Horjus missed a long-range shot to give possession back to Melbourne.
The Vixens wound down the clock for the final minute with a series of slick passes before nailing a goal with just seconds remaining to secure the two-goal win.
The result was sweet revenge for the Vixens, beaten by Adelaide in last season's grand final.
It also ensured the reign of Vixens coach Simone McKinnis, who will step down at the end of the season, will last at least one more week.
The Vixens will take on either the ladder-leading West Coast Fever or second-placed NSW Swifts in an away preliminary final.
The grand final will be held in Melbourne on August 2, meaning the fourth-placed Vixens will have home-court advantage if they are able to make the decider.
Austin played a key role in the Vixens' victory, nailing all five of her Super Shot attempts.
"I think just a bit of positive self talk, just telling yourself you can do it," Austin told Fox Sports about her hot shooting display.
"I've got great teammates around me that were making me feel really calm and made me feel like I could take the shot.
"It's probably the most relaxed I've felt in a way. I just wanted to go moment by moment. It's really hard to do in a big game like that."
Vixens goal shooter Sophie Garbin finished with 39 goals from 42 attempts, while Kate Eddy finished with three intercepts and three gains.
For Adelaide, goal attack Horjus nailed six Super Shots from nine attempts, while goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George (37 goals from 42 attempts) was fumbly at times.
There was drama even before the match began, with Vixens goalkeeper Rudi Ellis left with a cut eye during the warm-up after copping an accidental elbow from a teammate.
Eddy was the standout player of the opening quarter, tallying two intercepts and two gains to help turn an early 1-4 deficit into a 13-11 lead by the first break.
The second quarter was a goal-to-goal affair before the five-minute Super Shot period arrived.
Austin nailed consecutive long bombs as the visitors extended their lead to five goals, but Horjus hit back with two of her own to close the gap to three goals by halftime.
Adelaide snatched the lead with six of the first eight goals of the third quarter, but a crucial Eddy intercept helped turn the momentum back the Vixens' way.
Two Austin Super Shots gave the Vixens a 46-42 lead at the final change, and they were able to recover from Adelaide's frenzied late comeback to secure victory.
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