Housby,filling in for the injured Wallace,went goal for goal with Vixens sharp shooter Mwai Kumwenda early in the second and was supported by Fawns,the 18-year-old debutant who made an instant impact with two goals straight after coming on midway through the second.
The academy product from Wagga looked right at home on the big stage,going toe-to-toe with Diamonds stalwart Jo Weston,but it was the Vixens’ own young attacker Rahni Samason who took the game away from the reigning premiers,netting two super goals late to give the visitors a 32-19 lead going into half-time.
Fawns provided good support for Housby in the third quarter,but the pair were unable to close the gap on the Vixens and the reliable Kumwenda,with scores at 43-32 leading into the final break.
The Swifts got better as the game went on and fought back to bring the margin to seven points,before the Vixens called a timeout with nine minutes on the clock. Housby landed a super shot to bring the margin to three with 90 seconds on the clock,but Samason reciprocated with a calmly taken super shot to ensure the Vixens returned home to Melbourne with the win.
Another super shot from Fawns right on the final buzzer was a sign of the depth and potential in the Swifts squad. The 18-year-old calmed the nerves quickly,scoring 15 goals from 18 attempts in an impressive debut.
“I felt like after the first shot I really settled in,” she said.
“I wasn’t sure how long I would have on court,so whatever I was on for I just gave it my all.”
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