Game Report: UC Capitals defeat Geelong United 89-69 at the AIS Arena
The UC Capitals have defeated Geelong United in an all out slug fest at the AIS Arena. Both teams went back and forth all game, but the Capitals offensive masterclass and shut down defense gave the Canberra outfit all the confidence it needed to take the W over Geelong 89-69. Here is how it played out.
First Quarter
After the tip off going the Caps way, it was apparent that the Capitals were ready to roll. A Charli Collier mid range bomb got the home team offense to their rhythm fast and early, while they locked down Geelong defensively. Captain Jade Melbourne’s 3 pointer gave her the boost to direct the team with confidence as Nyadiew Puoch scored a quick two following some strong defence. After Geelong looked to have found their rhythm, the Caps interior defense tightened up, stringing stop after stop and allowing Nicole Munger to hit a huge 3 pointer with 3:50 remaining to give the Caps a 16-11 lead. The fast-paced nature of the game, combined with Capitals defensive advantage forced a United timeout, which did little to stop the Caps momentum. A steal from Indi Bowyer and a basket from Chantel Horvat with a string of fouls late into the quarter showed that UC was ready for the next quarter, rounding out the clock with a 27-15 lead.
Second Quarter
The 2nd quarter kicked off with Collier putting on a shot calling a physical foul, showing the Capitals intentions heading forward. UC got into their defensive grind to shut down Geelong as the quarter got underway, with a Jade Melbourne to Bowyer 3 pointer giving Capitals the opportunity to maintain their momentum. As Puoch comes back on to a fast paced back and forth game it was apparent that the Capitals have created a offensive vibe that Geelong couldn’t match. After a Geelong timeout jade Melbourne began to hand her team their own points taking the lead to 32-24. Charli Collier dug deep into the quarter around the rim, taking defensive rebounds left right and centre. Whilst Munger began to fire back against the Geelong fight back. As the fouls begun to show their head with 4.24 to go UC and Geelong slowly built up some fouls, Geelong in response called a second timeout to try and contain the chaos. As the quarter began to wind down Puoch and Colliers physicality gave Melbourne and Horvat the opportunity to take the lead to 44-31 before a string of back to back fouls rounded out a defensively and offensively masterclass by the Capitals 45-35.
UC 45-35 United
Jade Melbourne: 12pts,3reb,4ast
Nicole Mungar, 11pts, 2reb, 1ast
Chantel Horvat 7pts,8reb,1ast
Third Quarter
The second half kicked off with Capitals picking up from where they left off with a huge Munger side-line 3 pointer, giving UC outfit a huge lift. Geelong however did come out with a plan getting some offensive points going, but with Capitals defensive lock up caused to much trouble Geelong could not fire back. After a period of no scoring from UC, a Horvat shake and bake broke the cold streak. And with a back up from puoch it caused the AIS arena to jump to its feet. With Jade Melbourne’s three point ability and Capitals defence shutting everything down Geelong looked in trouble with 4.30 to go. Quick scoring from the likes of Puoch and Tofaeono coming back on to supply that support once again, Indi bowyer hit a huge three to potentially close out the quarter. but before the clock wound down a heavy collision at the basket slammed jade Melbourne into the hardwood. As the Ais arena crowd went silent and the officials came over to check, Jade jumped to her feet and walking off the court subbing out and going to the sheds for assessment. Scores at 68-44
Fourth Quarter
With the final quarter getting underway UC did not look like slowing down, with Horvat getting the scoring going again for the Capitals. A steal from bowyer with Horvat capitalising once again it was all systems go to blow out the lead 72-44. However, it came to a standstill with 7.56 to go after a huge physical hit at the rim, Ella Tofaeono was given a foul for the hit and a timeout was called in response by Geelong to give both teams time to think. Time got back underway with the capitals aiming to close out the game, with the likes Puoch and Horvat once again taking command with some out of this world layups. The absence of jade Melbourne did not seem to faze the team too, and despite a Geelong scoring streak for a two minute period a shutdown 3 pointer by Deeble snapped UC back into it. As defence closed out the game, Capitals Meg Jefferson was subbed on to get some game time under her belt only to give UC an extra push with a quick 2 points to extend. With the stadium on its feet and seconds counting down the UC Capitals gave Horvat a final scoring opportunity to notch up the win 89-69.
UC 89-69 Geelong
Jade Melbourne 17pts,5reb,5ast
Chantel Horvat 19pts,12reb,5ast
Nyadiew Puoch 20pts,6reb,2ast