A powerful second half has launched the Melbourne Vixens to a 60-56 Super Netball win over Sunshine Coast Lightning at John Cain Arena, and to a share of top spot with West Coast Fever.

The Vixens had their hands full with Lightning shooters Steph Wood and Cara Koenen but eventually found the right answers, outscoring the Lightning 29-23 after half-time in the Easter Saturday clash.

At the other end, Melbourne’s attackers Mwai Kumwenda and Kiera Austin came into their own while defenders Jo Weston and Emily Mannix’s fourth-quarter exploits were pivotal in the Vixens notching a third successive win.

“We know Lightning are a quality team and we knew they’d come out hard after their performance last week,” said Austin, who came alive after half-time to have the better of Lightning’s South African enforcer Karla Pretorius.

“It felt like a real solid effort from us, which we probably haven’t seen in a little bit.

The Lightning’s attacking combo of Wood and Koenen, curbed in last week’s landslide loss to Adelaide, were back to their brilliant connecting best.

Early on, Wood had the better of fellow Diamond Jo Weston to have a whopping 17 assists from 21 feeds by half-time.

Koenen was repeatedly the beneficiary of Wood’s expert playmaking as the visitors led 17-15 at quarter-time, a cushion they stretched to 30-23 during the second term.