Back on track: Caps secure important win over Flyers

In a game they absolutely had to have, the UC Capitals showed up and defeated the Southside Flyers at the AIS Arena 94-79, to keep itself on track in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The Caps, despite a loss in Townsville in its last game, had been playing well of late and they relied on their resurgent offense to keep the shorthanded Flyers at bay, sending the visitors to their 10th loss in a row.
A triple double by Jade Melbourne (15-10-10), alongside career high scoring efforts from Mon Bobongie (17pts) and Indi Bowyer (15pts) highlighted the win.
Here is how it played out.
First quarter
A fast-paced opening quarter started with both teams flowing offensively. Southside’s Maddi Rocci got going early, and Manny Puoch, getting the first start of her career, announced her presence early with a booming triple over Charli Collier. For the Caps, Charli was on a mission. The former WNBA first overall pick was dominant from the jump – scoring 10 of the Caps first 12 points, scoring from both inside and out as she punished the Flyers frontcourt early. Dallas Loughridge continued to be a thorn on the Caps side, drilling a triple to give the Flyers a 15-14 lead, but the Caps responded with a 10-0 run to force Coach Kristy Harrower to call a timeout. Loughridge once again steadied the Flyers, hitting her second threepointer and getting to the paint for a layup to get the Flyers back in the game at the end of the quarter.
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UC Capitals 24
Southside Flyers 20
Second quarter
Charli picked up right where she left off, scoring four quick points to open the quarter, the second one coming off a beautiful wrap around dime from Jade Melbourne. Katie Deeble, playing with her usual energy and peskiness, was back to being Threeble, hitting from the left wing to build the lead back up to 9 for the Caps, 31-22. Both teams started to up the physicality, trading elbows as well as points. A strategic timeout was called by Coach Goriss to slow it down with 5:32 to go to settle down the team and try to build momentum to close out the quarter. Nicole Munger got herself going, crashing the offensive glass and getting a couple of layups, but the Flyers vets – Kunek, Rocci, and Ernst – would all hit threes to keep the Flyers within striking distance. Indi Bowyer and Mon Bobongie hit a couple of baskets late, but once again, Loughridge and Kunek came through at the end of the quarter to keep the Flyers close.
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HALFTIME
UC Capitals 48
Charli Collier: 16pts, 3reb
Jade Melbourne 10pts, 5reb, 3asts
Monique Bobongie 8pts, 2reb
Southside Flyers 40
Madi Rocci: 8pts
Dallas Loughridge: 10pts
Alice Kunek: 7pts
Third quarter
As the second half got underway, defense became the focus of both teams. It took a Nicole Munger three to break the ice after almost two minutes and Indi followed it up with her second three of the game to force a Flyers timeout. Tera Reed and Loughridge responded for the Flyers, but Nards Puoch, Deeble, and Mon would have answers for the Caps. Both teams ratcheted up the physicality, with fouls and bodies crashing to the floor. The Flyers kept battling but the Caps kept responding with Mon starring to score 7 points in the quarter. Ella Tofeaono, making her first appearance since her knee injury against Geelong, made an immediate impact with a tough basket through contact to give the Caps a 69-54 lead, but as it did the first two quarters, the Flyers would finish strong scoring the last five points to remain within 10.
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UC Capitals 69
Southside Flyers 59
Fourth quarter
Coming out of the huddle the Capitals immediately hit the gas, with the team working together for a highlight fastbreak that ended in a Jade alleyoop to Mon. Jade and Charli proceeded to get buckets, but as Southside had done all game, they would find a way to keep it close, this time with Tera Reed and Manny Puoch. But Indi Bowyer got hot – hitting back to back threes – and after Jade hit her own three, Indi followed it up with her fifth triple of the game, off Jade’s 10 assist, to essentially put the game out of reach, 88-67 with just over 4 minutes left. After the Flyers hit a few baskets, the Caps called time and Munger got to the line and hit 2 free throws to steady the team. The Caps forced a missed, and Jade got her 10th rebound, securing a triple double. Jade took it all the way to the rim but got some contact which forced the ball out of bounds. Jade disagreed and got a tech foul, her 5th foul of the game, ending her afternoon. Toffy would end the scoring for the Caps with a couple inside baskets, as a crucial clash against the Sydney Flames looms next.
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FINAL UC Capitals 94, Southside Flyers 79
Jade Melbourne 15pts, 10reb, 10ast
Charli Collier 19pts, 6reb, 1ast
Monique Bobongie 17pts, 5reb, 1ast
Manny Puoch 17pts, 9rebs, 1ast, 2stls, 1blk
Dallas Loughridge 17pts, 2asts
Alice Kunek 11pts, 11ebs, 4asts
NEXT GAME: UC Capitals vs Sydney Flames, 6.30pm Thursday 30 January at the AIS Arena.