Kumwenda inspires Vixens to beat Giants

Australia-based netballer Mwawi Kumwenda again inspired her club Melbourne Vixens to a 66-63 win over Giants in a Suncorp Netball League match on Saturday.

The Malawian shooter contributed a whopping 50 baskets, including three straight shots in extra time after the two sides tied on 60-60.

Kumwenda had a 100 percent shooting accuracy after all her 50 attempts translated into goals.

In the first and second quarter, Vixens, who were playing away, won 13-10, and 18-14.

But the hosts came back in the third quarter winning 19-16 and went on to win the fourth quarter again 17-13, according www.supernetball.com.au.

The game went into extra time and Vixens won 6-3 with Kumwenda scoring the last three goals.

Kumwenda thanked God for the victory and her scintillating performance.

“It was tough, it went into extra time but we stuck to our game plan and won in a whole team performance. I thank God for the victory and also my teammates,” she said.

Kumwenda also had special praise for teammate Liz Watson, who is also the captain of the club. Watson was a huge contributor to the Vixens win, notching 28 goal assists and 46 feeds in an influential effort.

“She [Watson] was strong and her feeds were awesome all game and she was very consistent and that helped a lot,” the Malawian said.

Vixens coach Simone McKinnis also admitted in an interview with Fox Sports that it was a difficult game.

She said: “The good thing is we have practised extra-time before which the girls have complained about before and I said ‘see, that’s why we practise these things. It was always going to be a really tight, tough game. You never feel comfortable 10 goals ahead because of their capacity to shoot which you saw there,” she said.

“It was all going the Giants way third and fourth quarter. The shots were going in. I’m really impressed and happy with my players’ composure to keep it simple, to not panic and to play it out.”