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Nottingham Forest reached the Netball Super League play-offs for the first time in their history with a 76-65 win over leaders Loughborough Lightning.
Fourth-placed Forest confirmed they could not overcome the league’s chasing pack, extending a 39-35 half-time lead to condemn the Lightning to their second defeat of the season.
Rolen Strutker scored a game-high 42 goals for Forest, while goalkeeper Jayda Pechova starred at the other end of the court.
“We had a very good performance last week and we built on that,” man of the match Pechova told BBC Sport.
“I feel like I’ve worked really hard this year and it’s paying off. It’s our second year as a squad and we’ve come so far, it’s crazy. We’re in the top four and our performance and the way we’ve played as a squad is incredible.”
Nottingham Forest coach Chelsea Pittman added that she was emotional to see her side reach the post-season in their second season of existence.
“We talked about the importance of this game, the opportunity to get to the semifinals no matter what happens with the other team,” Pittman said.
“And for them to go out there and have four consecutive quarters — still room for improvement — I’m a happy coach.”
In the other match of the evening, Manchester Thunder knocked the Lightning off the top of the standings with an 82-66 win away to Leeds Rhinos.
The Thunder now lead the league on goal difference, with both teams winning 10 matches and losing two.
Eleanor Cardwell and Sophie Fawns scored 33 and 19 respectively for the Thunder, while Paige Reed’s 24 was top scorer for the Rhinos, who have never beaten their cross-Pennine rivals.
In the remainder of Round 12, bottom side Birmingham Panthers host the Dragons on Saturday (18:00 BST), while it’s a London derby on Sunday (16:00 BST) as the Mavericks welcome third-placed Pulse.
Both the Mavericks and Dragons, who are sixth and fifth respectively, saw their chances of reaching the play-offs ended with a Forest win.
