Red-hot Flames chalk up fourth straight win against Flyers
The Sydney Flames’ finals chances are well on track after securing their fourth straight win on Thursday, thumping the Southside Flyers 101-82 at Quaycentre.
The win, which saw Shaneice Swain make her club debut and become Flame #223 in front of 2,081 fans, cements the Hoops Capital side’s spot in fourth, with just two regular-season games remaining.
Match summary
Leilani Mitchell put up the first points, met quickly by Didi Richards to close the gap. Three for Tess Madgen put Sydney in the lead. Paige Bradley came with a lay-up, to see the Flames’ lead extend, before Bec Cole drew it back. Lauren Nicholson clutched up to keep the Flyers at a distance. Traded buckets between the two kept the gap stable, before Nicholson and Richards pulled through with uninterrupted jump shots. Lauren Jackson put up three, though the Flyers were unable to match the Flames, Emma Clarke putting up a last-minute three, followed by Flyers’ Jasmine Dickey to see Sydney up by 11 after the first (29-18).
Paige Bradley fired up with an early three, followed by contributions from Flyers’ Dickey and Carley Ernst. A Shanice Swain-Cayla George link-up saw Sydney’s lead back in the doubles. Swain came with three, followed by baskets from Jackson and Nicholson. A jump shot from Madgen pulled the points gap to 15. Cole’s efforts to close the gap were quickly fought off by Madgen before the Flyers put up another three. A jump shot from George and-one from Richards had Sydney up by 17 into half-time (52-35).
BANG. THAT ONE GOES DOWNNNNNN 🗣️@SwainShaneice hits a triple and a dime on her Flames debut 😤
Watch the second on 9NOW #FlameOn pic.twitter.com/xWoEBdD6vY
— Sydney Flames (@TheSydneyFlames) January 25, 2024
Jackson was first to the board following half-time, met quickly by three from Nicholson. Jackson came with another jump shot, shut down once more by a three-point play for Richards. Traded baskets saw little movement in the points gap, before uninterrupted contributions from Russell, Nyadiew Puoch and Jasmine Dickey drew it to 14. Back-to-back jump shots from Swain drew it back to 19, with fouls in Sydney’s favour pushing the margin to 20. Three for Cole marked the end of the third, with Sydney up by 17 going into the final quarter (75-58).
Bringing the momentum for the Flyers, Cole came into the final 10 with back-to-back jump-shots. Fouls in Sydney’s favour put up the first points for the Flames, followed by Swain after a slow start to the quarter for both teams. Dickey and Mitchell stepped up for the Flyers, putting up five to see the gap close to 11. George and three from Madgen worked to extend this gap back out, following fouls in Southsides’ favour. Traded threes kept the Flyers in the game, with Ahlise Hurst clutching up to push them out. A final second contribution from Isla Juffermans, kept the Flyers grounded and saw Sydney walk away with a 21-point win (102-81).
Where the match was decided
The Flames secured the win thanks to statistical victories in field goal percentage (53-42), triple (13-7), free-throw percentage (75-66), assist (29-17) and points in the paint (36-30).
Key moment
A massive first half, which saw the harbour city side outscore their rivals 53-35, laying the platform for the big Fighting Period Poverty Round triumph.
Player of the game
For the third straight game, all five starters for Sydney scored in double-figures – with George and Nicholson leading the way with 21 each.
Richards added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Madgen (13), Bradley (11) and Swain were also exceptional.
What’s next
Guy Molloy’s side, who are now 11-8, now have more than two weeks before their next fixture due to the FIBA break.
That game though will be an acknowledgement to Flyers’ Lauren Jackson at Qudos Bank Arena, where the Flames will chase the all-time WNBL crowd record.
Tickets to that February 18 blockbuster will go on sale next week.