#WNBL20 Round 14 Wrap
With their backs firmly against the wall, the UC Capitals oozed guts and character in knocking over #WNBL20 ladder-leader Southside Flyers.
UC Capitals 98 d Southside Flyers 74
Reigning league MVP Kelsey Griffin was on the sidelines and Keely Froling forced to watch on with a broken nose and fractured cheekbone, the Caps, with just 8 players, led from the outset on the way to a 98-74 win at Dandenong Stadium.
Maddy Rocci produced a career-best 19 points and credited the victory to a team effort, as every player scored.
“We worked so hard all week and losing two very important players in our team meant people had to step up and do everything that we could to get over the line,’’ she said.
“We’re a great team, there’s something special there so we’ve got to keep building and moving into the finals.”
Game MVP Kia Nurse (33 points, at 54 per cent) was simply superb, Olivia Epoupa’s 15 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists reflected her all-round game, Marianna Tolo (13 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists) was crucial while Alex Delaney averaged just six minutes court time before Sunday, replacing Froling in the starting 5 she excelled with 13 points in 30 minutes.
For the Flyers, Mercedes Russell (18 points, 10 rebounds) registered her 12th double-double of the season, Leilani Mitchell scored 14 points alongside 5 assists with Aimie Clydesdale (11 points), Bec Cole (10 points) and Sara Blicavs (10 points, 8 rebounds) all in double figures on a disappointing afternoon.
UC Capitals 76 d Melbourne Boomers 75
This Friday night thriller in the nation’s capital had to be seen to be believed.
Remarkably, the Boomers led 66-60 with just 43 seconds on the clock before Nurse (23 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) sunk a triple to reduce the margin then when Sophie Cunningham (22 points) was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Rocci she completed one free throw to make it 66-64 before Nurse sent this epic to extra time.
The lead and momentum swung in the extra period but with her face bandaged, Froling (12 points, 9 rebounds) sealed it for the home side who enjoyed telling displays from Tolo (22 points, 9 rebounds) and Epoupa (16 rebounds, 8 points, 7 assists).
For the Boomers it was their second straight defeat in overtime following last week’s loss to the Southside Flyers. Stella Beck (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and Ezi Magbegor (14 points) joined Cunningham at the top of the stat sheet.
Adelaide Lightning 77 d Townsville Fire 60
In a see-sawing contest at Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide earned a hard-fought win and all but confirmed its spot in the play offs.
The Big T’s – Talbot (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Turner (15 points, 9 rebounds) paced the winners as Opals squad members Lauren Nicholson (14 points, 7 rebounds) and Nicole Seekamp (12 points, 9 assists) got rolling.
Tess Madgen (7 rebounds, 4 assists) set the tone early scoring 11 of her team-high 14 points in the opening term. Darcee Garbin (16 points, 10 rebounds) had a say at both ends and Julie Vanloo (10 points) hit double figures.
Southside Flyers 91 d Bendigo Spirit 76
After losing inspirational captain Jenna O’Hea to a broken wrist, the Flyers were able to get back on track and score a convincing road win over Bendigo.
It wasn’t pretty but it was effective for Southside, Bec Cole top scoring with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists as her team came charging out of the blocks with a promising start, floor general Mitchell contributed 19 points as Russell (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Blicavs (18 points, 8 rebounds) chimed in.
Bendigo’s stat sheet was filled by Tessa Lavey (20 points), Abbey Wehrung (15 points, 6 rebounds) and Carley Ernst (15 points, 5 rebounds).
Melbourne Boomers 76 d Sydney Uni Flames 62
Back on court just 24 hours after falling in extra time, the Boomers led by three points in the last quarter before charging home to return to the winners list.
Magbegor is shining in the run home to finals and sunk 11 of her game-high 25 points in the final term. Earlier, Maddie Garrick got the Boomers going with 13 opening-quarter points but failed to score after the first break. Fellow co-captain Cayla George registered 14 points, 8 boards and 2 steals. With an opportunity to start in the absence of superstar Lindsay Allen, Beck (10 points) was again a factor.
The injury-ravaged Flames, who have lost star Alice Kunek to a season-ending elbow injury, were well served by Britt Smart’s best outing of the season (18 points) while Lauren Scherf (14 points, 11 rebounds) earned yet another double-double.
Perth Lynx 95 d Townsville Fire 62
After a week where import centre Imani McGee-Stafford was released, the Lynx went on to bank consecutive home wins.
Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger (21 points) stepped up to the plate in the final term with 12 points, Katie-Rae Ebzery (17 points, 8 rebounds) led from the front with Marena Whittle (17 points) a spark once again. Tellingly, Perth had 43 points from the bench compared to the Fire’s 12.
Garbin’s 19 points led Townsville, backing up from Player of the Week honours, Bridget Carlton (12 points, 12 rebounds) conjured a third consecutive double-double and Madgen finished with 10 points and 5 boards.