Fire clinch road win
The JCU Townsville Fire have returned to the winners’ list with an 81-68 victory on the road over Dandenong.
Having dropped both games at home to the Rangers, the Fire extracted some revenge for those losses as Darcee Garbin (20 points and eight rebounds) guided the visitors to victory.
Micaela Cocks (17 points and six rebounds), Zitina Aokuso (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Laurin Mincy (11 points) all finished in double figures, while Ally Malott posted a career-high seven assists and Mikhaela Donnelly chipped in with five steals.
The Fire will now return to Townsville Stadium on Saturday night to host the Sydney Uni Flames with Suzy Batkovic a confirmed starter for the fixture.
The Fire are hoping for a full house to wave goodbye to their superstar captain.
JCU Townsville Fire captain @SuzyBatkovic WILL return for our final game of the season – Dads & Daughters – with tickets now on sale —> https://t.co/CWZwwNwVnB #FireUpTownsville #DadsAndDaughters #SoLongSuzy pic.twitter.com/8tyddPNMKH
— Townsville Fire (@TownsvilleFire) January 13, 2019
“Our defensive intensity picked up at the back end of the first half,” Fire coach Claudia Brassard said.
“We challenged our starters to maintain that to begin the second half, and to their credit, they were able to go on a run.
“It was clearly one of Darcee’s better games, but Zitina was great despite not being able to train all week and Micaela was also very good.
“It was pleasing to pick up the win.”
During a frenetic start to the contest, the Fire opened the game with a 7-0 run as Cocks and Garbin started with an early heat check.
The Rangers countered, however, as they locked the scores at 26-26 before securing a 46-43 lead at the main change.
A stunning 14-0 run to the Fire to start the third term was a gamechanger, as Cocks and Garbin made the early running.
Kiwi international Stella Beck then added seven quick points before Aokuso got in on the action.
While Bec Cole (20 points) was able to rattle off eight points in succession, the Fire led 66-58 at three-quarter-time and ran away with things in the final term.
Click here to see box scores between the Fire and the Rangers.