Sunshine Coast have closed their Super Netball season on a high after charging home in the second half to defeat local rivals Queensland Firebirds 66-60.
Trailing by 10 goals early in the third quarter of Sunday's clash at UNiSC Arena, the Lightning capitalised on an untimely injury to Firebirds sharpshooter Donnell Wallam to storm home and claim victory in the Queensland Cup.
Steph Wood spearheaded Sunshine Coast's second-half revival despite nursing a number of stitches above her eye following a head clash with Gabi Simpson late in the second quarter.
The Australian Diamonds attacker returned to the action and finished with 17 goals, including three Super shots, 31 feeds and 25 goal assists with the Lightning outscoring the Firebirds 35-23 after halftime.
"I think it was the game where you grind out in the first three quarters and then you reap the benefits in the fourth," Wood told Fox Sports.
"And credit to our defenders - they got us a lot of ball in that fourth quarter and we were able to convert it."
Wood felt her squad's strong finish to the season, highlighted by impressive wins over the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland in the final two rounds, was the result of a commitment to consistent effort for a full four quarters.
"That's what we've been striving for all year and we wanted this to be our grand final and to be able to lift the (Queensland) Cup, that's what we were aiming for to do," Wood said.
A 4-0 start to the contest handed Queensland an early advantage and with goalkeeper Remi Kamo disrupting the Lightning attack with two intercepts, the visitors held an 18-16 lead thanks to Emily Moore's late Super shot.
Momentum appeared to swing in the Firebirds' favour when Wood left the court with blood streaming from her eye in the final minutes of the second period, Queensland closing the half with two Donnell Wallam Super shots and a 37-31 advantage.
Wallam pushed Queensland's lead into double-digits with the first four goals of the third stanza but the Firebirds were rocked when the 190cm goal shooter limped to the bench after tweaking her ankle at the midway point of the quarter and the Lightning pounced with an 11-2 run.
Tied at 47-47 after three quarters, Sunshine Coast brought the home crowd alive with an 11-1 start to the final term to secure the win despite Wallam's effort to play through the injury in the closing stages.
The Firebirds finish the season in seventh spot with four wins after dropping back-to-back games following their upset win over Melbourne Vixens.
