Boomers Come Away From Close Loss To Fire With Plenty Of Positives
November 23, 2017 | Melbourne Boomers news
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers will foster plenty of positives despite a close 66-73 loss in Townsville. Going in at less than full strength with star centre Liz Cambage serving a one-game suspension, the Boomers battled foul trouble throughout the physical contest and in the end the home team made the most of the 29 fouls shots afforded to them, nailing 25 of them.
At the other end the Boomers hit the charity stripe just 16 times.
A lean shooting period (0/7) to start the third period proved costly for the Boomers and handed the Fire an important edge, the lead jumping out to 10pts. It proved to be an advantage they wouldn’t surrender easily during a competitive final 15 minutes of the game, the Boomers momentarily grabbing the lead with just under four minutes to play.
However the last four minutes belonged to the home team as they made the most of their chances and hauled in multiple offensive rebounds, helping them to a 10-2 winning run.
As the game heated up down the stretch, Townsville’s 11 chances at the foul line compared to none for Melbourne proved pivotal, the Fire nailing nine of the bonus shots to snare the win.
Jenna O’Hea (13pts), Louella Tomlinson (12pts) and Ash Grant (11pts) scored the points for Melbourne, while Kalani Purcell (11rbs, 6ast) once again proved an all-round handful for the opposition.
The tough loss leaves the Boomers with an 8-5 record ahead of an important clash against Sydney this Sunday in the WNBL Cluster Round. Liz Cambage will return to the line-up for the Boomers.
Townsville 73 (Garbin 18pts, Batkovic 17pts) def Melbourne 66 (O’Hea 13pts, Tomlinson 12pts, Grant 11pts)