Round 13 match report | Vixens vs Mavericks

Victorian pathway athlete and Vixens player Kim Borger was named in the game day squad, replacing Lily Graham, who remained sidelined with back soreness.

The match also marked a special milestone for long-time coaching staff member Di Honey, who celebrated her 200th game with the Melbourne Vixens coaching group.

In a fiercely contested clash that went down to the final quarter, the Mavericks ultimately came away with a 59-50 victory.

Q1 | Vixens 10 – 15 Mavericks
The opening quarter started fast paced, with both sides applying intense pressure across the court. The Vixens forced several Mavericks errors early, but the visitors responded strongly to keep the contest tight. Shimona Nelson proved a constant threat in attack, challenging the Vixens' defensive unit, while Rudi Ellis (4 deflections, 2 gains) worked tirelessly in defence with several strong efforts to disrupt the Mavericks' flow. A fierce battle through the midcourt set the tone for a competitive start, with the Mavericks holding a narrow lead at the first break.

Q2 | Vixens 25 – 25 Mavericks
The second quarter was a hard-fought contest, with the Mavericks applying strong pressure to the Vixens shooters and making every attacking possession difficult. Despite the relentless defensive pressure and well-timed efforts from the Mavericks, the Vixens' defensive unit responded strongly, converting turnovers into attacking opportunities and forcing errors. Sophie Garbin (30/32) stood tall under the post, while Kate Eddy (3 deflections, 2 gains) produced several crucial intercepts and defensive plays to help close the gap to a single goal, prompting another Mavericks tactical timeout with just over a minute remaining. Kate Moloney (26 feeds, 10 goal assists) continued to work tirelessly through the midcourt, while Emily Mannix's (4 gains, 2 intercepts) strong timing and defensive presence proved vital. After an intense and evenly matched term, the scores were locked at 25-25 heading into halftime.

Q3 | Vixens 40 – 44 Mavericks
Both teams came out firing after halftime, with the intensity lifting as the contest remained tightly fought. Kate Eddy continued her strong defensive performance, applying relentless pressure and creating important opportunities for the Vixens. In attack, the connection between Kiera Austin (17/25, 17 goa asissts) and Sophie Garbin continued to strengthen, helping the Vixens maintain their momentum. Through the midcourt, Eddy and Zara Walters (21 feeds, 16 goal assissts) battled hard for possession, with both players making crucial contributions in transition. Kim Borger (2/3, 1 super shot) also made her impact felt in attack, holding strong and showcasing her class by sinking the first Super Shot of the night. Despite the Vixens' efforts, the Mavericks held a 44-40 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Q4 | Vixens 50 – 59 Mavericks
The final quarter was intense with both teams applying immense pressure as the margin remained within reach. Crucial turnovers helped the Vixens reduce the deficit to just one goal, prompting a Mavericks tactical timeout. With eight minutes remaining, the scores were level and both sides were desperate to claim the win. Emily Mannix continued to have a strong impact in defence, applying relentless pressure under the post and contesting every ball. The game flowed end-to-end as each team responded with goals of their own, keeping the scores locked for much of the quarter. However, a series of costly errors from the Vixens in the closing stages allowed the Mavericks to edge ahead as the pressure intensified. Chasing the game, the Vixens looked to the Super Shot in the final minutes to spark a comeback, but a number of tough errors proved costly.

THE NUMBERS
7 – Emily Mannix defensive efforts didn't go unnoticed tallying four gains, two intercepts, one deflection and one rebound.
1 – Kim Borger secured the only super shot of the game as she made her SSN return.

THE COACH SAYS

Di on the final minutes of the game and how the Vixens decision making came into play.
“I just felt the decision making went out the door, we were passing to players that had two on them, we weren't using our voice and probably stopped taking the hard drives... We could of won it but I think we let it go.”

“They looked hungrier than us in that last quarter and I felt that we really needed to step up and go for it.”

Di on focusing on the future coming into finals.
“We’ve got to sit down and have a hard conversation, there's got to be accountability there from each player,” she said.

NEXT UP
The Vixens will face West Coast Fever on Sunday 14 June 2pm at John Cain Arena

ALL IN. ALL VIXEN.
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