Capitals prove too strong

The UC Capitals have proven too strong for the JCU Townsville Fire for the second time in a week.

Needing to win to keep their title hopes alive, the Fire were jumped by a white-hot Caps team in the opening term as Kia Nurse (33 points) and Leilani Mitchell (17 points) went on a three-point barrage.

The international stars stroked six-of-nine triples en route to an 18-33 opening quarter, with Laurin Mincy (20 points) and Darcee Garbin (13 points and eight rebounds) doing their best to keep the visitors in the contest.

The three-point onslaught continued in the second term as the lead quickly ballooned beyond 20 before Ally Malott (seven points) and Zitina Aokuso (four points) made some telling baskets.

Despite the fightback, the Caps took a 63-38 lead into the main change.

Any hope of a second-half rescure mission were swiftly extinguished as the Caps went on an early 8-0 run.

“We had some pretty poor turnovers that led to easy scores and then Kia Nurse just couldn’t miss in the first half,” Fire coach Claudia Brassard told the Townsville Bulletin.

“We did a better job on the boards so we just need to focus on Sydney and make sure we get back on the winning track quick.

“We know they’re a gettable game and we have to get them.”

With the Caps leading 81-54 at three-quarter-time, Brassard opted to sub-in her rotation players with young gun Alex Fowler rewarding her with a career-high seven points and two rebounds.

The Fire face the Flames in the second game of their road trip in Sydney from 1pm on Sunday.

Click here to see box scores between the Fire and the Caps.