WNBL24 Round 8 Wrap
Round 8 Recap: Explosive Action and Upsets Galore!
Round 8 showcased the WNBL’s unpredictable nature, with standout performances, thrilling comebacks, and unexpected upsets, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Melbourne vs. Sydney: The Sydney Flames brought the heat to Melbourne, dominating the Boomers with an incredible 86-58 victory. Emma Clarke and Lauren Nicholson led the charge, showcasing exceptional skills, including a remarkable 6-8 from beyond the arc.
UC Caps vs. Adelaide: The UC Capitals secured their second consecutive win, overpowering Adelaide Lightning with a final score of 86-73. Jade Melbourne‘s stellar performance, including 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, earned her the Player of the Game title.
Sydney vs. Bendigo: The Sydney Flames orchestrated a remarkable comeback against Bendigo Spirit, sealing the win at 79-67. Lauren Nicholson and Cayla George spearheaded the Flames’ resurgence, setting the stage for a thrilling top-4 chase.
Perth vs. Southside: In a riveting showdown, the Perth Lynx triumphed over the Southside Flyers, claiming a 95-85 victory. Amy Atwell‘s sensational 27-point performance and Anneli Maley‘s milestone 1000th career point were pivotal in securing Perth’s second-place standing on the WNBL ladder.
Townsville vs. Melbourne: The Melbourne Boomers orchestrated a major upset, ending the Townsville Fire’s seven-game winning streak with an impressive 82-62 triumph. Naz Hillmon‘s 22 points and Keely Froling‘s double-double performance proved instrumental in the Boomers’ dominance.
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MELBOURNE VS SYDNEY 📆 Wednesday 20th December
The Sydney Flames reignite in stellar win against the Melbourne Boomers
Written by Kaitlyn Stones
Summary
The opening game to Round 8 of the WNBL season saw the Melbourne Boomers and Sydney Flames battle it out for a much-needed win at Melbourne Sports Centre Parkville. The Flames appeared to power over the Boomers as the team amassed 18 3-pointers, defeating the hometown team 86-58.
The work of top performers Emma Clarke and Lauren Nicholson massively influenced the performance given by the Sydney Flames. Clarke provided a much-needed 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Whilst Player of the Game, Nicholson, dominated against the Boomers with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists; whilst also showing off her skills with 6-8 from 3. Today’s game also saw Flames young gun, Isla Juffermans, score her first WNBL points.
Score
Sydney Flames 86 defeated Melbourne Boomers 58
Venue
Melbourne Sports Centre – Parkville
Top Performers
• Keely Froling (Melbourne Boomers) 14 pts, 2 ast, 9 reb
• Sara Blicavs (Melbourne Boomers) 11 pts, 1 ast, 8 reb
• Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames) 24 pts, 3 ast, 4 reb
• Emma Clarke (Sydney Flames) 16 pts, 4 ast, 5 reb
UC CAPS VS ADELAIDE 📆 Thursday 21st December
UC Capitals two in a row against Adelaide Lightning
Written by Nellie Rose
Summary
A last minute change in venue couldn’t waver the confidence of the Capitals who just a week prior came off their first win of the season. Coming in confident also was Adelaide who just won in an upset against the Melbourne Boomers. The initial matchup was fairly even as Adelaide were only two wins above the Capitals.
The first quarter ended with the UC Capitals leading by 10 points (24-14) due to their offensive accuracy. Alex Sharp lead all scorers with 8 points.
By the second quarter Adelaide were able to control the ball more, slowing down the Capitals momentum. The statics levelled out compared to the first quarter. However, the Capitals lead again by 10 points (43-33) going into the break.
UC continued their dominance into the third quarter, getting out to a game high lead of 16 points thanks to Jade Melbourne’s 5th 3 point shot of the game. UC were able to capitalise more from turning over the ball and got 13 additional rebounds compared to Adelaide’s 7, ending the quarter (66-51).
To start the last quarter Adelaide scored the first points and made a continuous effort to have a potential comeback, they won the individual quarter scoring 22 points to UC’s 20. However the previous efforts for UC were enough for them to secure the win.
The POTG was Jade Melbourne who had one of the best individual performances of the season.
Score
UC Capitals: 86 defeated Adelaide Lightning: 73
Venue
Collegians Centre at Radford College, Canberra ACT
Top Performers
• Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals) – 31 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast.
• Alex Sharp (UC Capitals) – 18 pts, 13 reb, 3 ast.
• Brianna Turner (Adelaide Lightning) -10 pts, 12 reb, 2 ast.
• Lauren Mansfeild (Adelaide Lightning) – 16 pts, 1 reb, 4 ast.
SYDNEY VS BENDIGO 📆 Friday 22nd December
Written by Lola Di Donato
From Tension to Triumph: The Sydney Flames Stage an Unforgettable Comeback in a Crucial Battle
Summary
In a high stakes match for both teams’ top 4 ambitions, The Sydney Flames clashed with Bendigo Spirit in a tightly contested game. Bendigo held a narrow lead in the first half as The Flames struggled to contain Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo Spirit), proving to be a relentless force on the court. However it was The Flames who unleashed a highly defensive strategy in the second half, shifting the momentum in their favour. Lauren Nicholson and Cayla George led from the front as they accounted for nearly half of Sydney’s scoring output.
The 12 point win has put The Flames within striking distance of the top 4 however will be faced with another tough contest against top-of-the-ladder next Friday.
Score
Sydney Flames 79 defeated Bendigo Spirit 67
Venue
Quay Centre (Sydney)
Top Performers
- Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames): 20 pts, 6reb, 4ast
- Cayla George (Sydney Flames): 17 pts, 8reb, 9ast
- Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo Spirit): 14 pts, 6reb, 4ast
- Casey Samuels (Bendigo Spirit): 12pts, 3reb, 0ast
PERTH VS SOUTHSIDE 📆 Saturday 23rd December
Written by Georgia Lee
Perth Lynx Triumph in Riveting Showdown, Toppling Southside Flyers and Clinching 2nd Place on the WNBL Ladder!
Summary
In a captivating Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) matchup at Bendat Basketball Centre, the Perth Lynx clashed with the Southside Flyers in a game characterized by intense swings of momentum.
The initial quarter witnessed a scoring spectacle from both teams. Despite the Southside Flyers establishing a 7-point lead, the Perth Lynx rallied back, concluding the quarter with a slim 27-25 lead. Notably, Amy Atwell stood out with 9 points, 1 rebound, and 2 steals during the first quarter, complemented by Maley’s 6 points and 3 rebounds for the Lynx in the first quarter. Puoch showcased her skills for the Flyers with 7 points and 3 rebounds.
Aari McDonald and Steph Gorman’s standout efforts in the second quarter nudged the Perth Lynx ahead, securing a narrow 48-46 lead at halftime. The scoring exchanges mirrored a seesaw, with Bec Cole from the Flyers contributing crucial buckets.
The third quarter highlighted a stellar performance by Amy Atwell, who found her rhythm from the 3-point line, contributing to a 12-point lead for the Perth Lynx. Southside Flyers responded tenaciously, narrowing the margin to 8 points at the close of the quarter, with the Lynx leading 77-69.
In the final quarter, defensive intensity took center stage, and Anneli Maley achieved a significant milestone, scoring her 1000th career point with a pivotal 3-pointer. The Lynx maintained control, securing a 12-point lead to clinch the victory.
Adding significance to the game, historical trends over the past 15 seasons suggested that the team winning the first encounter often claims the season series. Post tonight’s game, the series stands tied at 1-1, setting the stage for a compelling future matchup.
Score
Perth Lynx 95 defeated Southside Flyers 85.
Venue
Bendat Basketball Centre – Perth
Top Performers
- Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx): 27 pts, 4 stl, 5-9 from the 3-point line.
- Aari Mcdonald (Perth Lynx): Â 25 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl.
- Mercedes Russell (Southside Flyers): 20 pts, 12 reb, 4 stl.
- Nyadiew Puoch (Southside Flyers): 11 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast.
TOWNSVILLE VS MELBOURNE 📆 Saturday 23rd December
Written by Jayden Rosanowski
Melbourne Boomers create an upset, defeating Townsville Fire end ending their winning streak
Summary
The Melbourne Boomers have defeated the Townsville Fire in an upset victory in round 8 of the WNBL season, ending the Fire’s 7 game winning streak.
Melbourne Boomers and Townsville Fire came head to head in round 8, with both teams having a point to prove. Boomers were coming off of 3 losses in a row and the Fire were wanting to hold onto their 7 game winning streak. This exciting match saw the Boomers come away with a 20 point win, with a final score of 82-62.
A tight tussle ensued in the beginning of the match with both teams showing promising signs with strong offensive and defensive efforts. However, the third quarter saw the Boomers put on a performance and create a game high 24 point lead. The Fire left fans nervous with some worrying signs emerging in the third as they let the Boomers continue to dominate. Townsville were able to gain some momentum back at the end of the third term to slightly close the gap, however Boomers were able to maintain their lead.
Melbourne were able to come out strong again in the final quarter, ultimately proving too good for the Fire and ending their 7 game winning streak and proving the Boomer’s dominance on the night.
Score
Melbourne Boomers 82 defeated Townsville Fire 62
Venue
Townsville Entertainment Centre
Top Performers
- Naz Hillmon (Melbourne Boomers):Â 22 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast
- Keely Froling (Melbourne Boomers): 17 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast
- Sara Blicavs (Melbourne Boomers): 15 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast
- Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire): 22 pts, 5 reb, 7-10 2p
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