Round 4 match report | Vixens vs Lightning

It marked the Vixens’ first home game of the 2026 season presented by our match day partner Sixt, with our Vixens family coming together to celebrate the unfurling of the 2025 Championship flag.

Q1 | Vixens 16 – 17 Lightning
It was a highly competitive contest from the opening whistle, with both sides going goal-for-goal in a fast-paced first quarter. Sophie Garbin (36/37,10 goal assists, 10 feeds) was flawless under the post, while Kiera Austin (27/34, 18 feeds, 4 deflections) set the tone early with her intensity and strong connection with Garbin. Austin nailed two super shots, reinforcing her status as the most accurate super shot shooter in the league. At the other end, Donnell Wallam led the way for the Lightning, finishing the quarter with an impressive 12/14 attempts.

Q2 | Vixens 32 – 33 Lightning
The Vixens were forced to call a tactical timeout as the Lightning stretched their lead to four, with Courtney Bruce applying relentless defensive pressure. Kiera Austin continued to step up, draining three more super shots to bring her tally to five super shots by halftime. Liz Watson’s delivery through the court and into the attacking circle proved a major influence on the Lightning’s gameplay, while Emily Mannix (2 gains, 2 deflections, 1 intercept) defensive efforts were equally impactful and didn’t go unnoticed for the home side. Despite the pressure, the Vixens stayed within reach, heading into the halftime break just one point down.

Q3 | Vixens 48 – 45 Lightning
The third quarter brought another strong surge from the Vixens as the team began to truly gel and build momentum. Zara Walters (18 goal assists, 28 feeds, 1 pickup) was outstanding through the midcourt, combining seamlessly with her teammates to deliver precise feeds and stack up the goal assists, while Austin brought the crowd to life once again with another super shot, taking her to a perfect 6 from 6 by three-quarter time. Riding this wave of teamwork and energy, the Vixens surged ahead to take the lead 48-45.

Q4 | Vixens 70 – 59 Lightning
Neck and neck coming into the fourth quarter, both teams worked tirelessly around the post, keeping their play short and precise. The Vixens began to assert dominance, led by a commanding performance from Garbin under the post, securing 13/13 attempts in the last quarter. The team’s synergy across the court was evident, with smooth transitions that kept the pressure on the Lightning. This momentum allowed the Vixens to pull away, building a 10-point lead with just three minutes to go, with Walters continuing to play a vital role in driving the attack. The Vixens secured a strong 70-59 win, maintaining their perfect record and extending their undefeated season to 4-0.

THE NUMBERS
113.5 – Kiera Austin’s Player of the Match performance was electric, contributing 113.5 Net Points through her high-intensity play, with 27/34 attempts, 18 feeds, 6 super shots and 4 deflections highlighting her impact on both ends of the court.

THE COACH SAYS

Di Honey praised the team’s performance, celebrating their perfect 4–0 start to the 2026 season. She highlighted the game’s momentum shift and how the Vixens really took control in the second half.

“In the start we were a bit hesitant, it was quite a physical game. I felt that the shooters had to adjust probably a bit more than the defenders, but I think that full court pressure in the second half and more defined movement in the second half that’s where we won the game.”

“It’s a tough competition and you have to pull every ball in... You’ve just got to get on with it try to play your best netball… There was more variety and in our decision making we were a bit smarter, so it all came together and that last quarter was just superb… As a coach I was wrapped.”

Di was impressed by young gun Zara Walters as she was a strong force through the midcourt.

“She opened it up a bit more and she was really hitting circle edge quite well… Zara plays a different game.”

NEXT UP
The Vixens will take on the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewell Arena on Saturday 11 April 5pm AEST.

ALL IN. ALL VIXEN.
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