Hearts on full display in epic Capitals clash

February 25, 2023 | UC Capitals news

An undersized UC Capitals team have gone down to the Melbourne Boomers 95-103 at the NCCC.

The home side was missing Alex Bunton and Lizzy Tonks after the duo were both ruled out with injury.

Jade Melbourne, Shaneice Swain, Bec Pizzey, Rae Burrell and Nicole Munger lined up for the UC Capitals, while the Boomers started Cayla George, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Tiffany Mitchell, Mia Murray and Taylor Ortlepp.

Q1

The Caps won the jump ball, but it was the Boomers who came out firing scoring the first three baskets of the match. Swain dropped the first points for the Caps before Murray pushed it for the Boomers to score two three-pointers in two minutes. The momentum stayed with the visitors as they made use of their height advantage and push their lead out even further. Back-to-back baskets from Melbourne kept the Caps in the contest as they made use of their substitutes early. To finish off the quarter, Burrell fired up for the Caps earning multiple steals which she converted into more points for the Caps. It was Swain who had the last word, scoring a three-pointer and bringing the margin back to just two-points.

Caps 20 – Boomers 22

Q2

Both teams took their time to settle back into the second term, with Tiffany Mitchell’s foul shots eventually kicking off the scoring. However, the Caps soon took control and came back firing through Melbourne who’s quick hands earned her three consecutive baskets. Paired with a Britt Smart three-pointer, the Caps took their first lead of the match and managed to run it out by 10 points. George stayed strong in the paint for the Boomers, pairing up with Mitchell to keep the baskets going. The home side proved that height wasn’t an issue as they kept the three-pointers dropping to hold their lead for the remainder of the quarter. A steal from Melbourne topped off the Caps momentum as she denied the Boomers their final chance to score before the break.

Melbourne and Swain both finished the half with 16 points and 4 rebounds each, while Tiffany Mitchell led for the Boomers with 18 points and 4 rebounds.

Caps 54 – Boomers 44

Q3

Within the first minute the Boomers came out to halve the margin with points to George and Tiffany Mitchell. The visitor’s dominance continued until they had drawn back level and forced Caps head coach, Kristen Veal, into calling a timeout. Smart and Swain came up with the scoring for the home side and kept the margin to just one basket. With one-minute remaining momentum swung back with the Boomers as they took charge with their physicality. A last second charge from Burrell kept the Caps in the fight but wasn’t enough to lessen the margin.

Caps 72 – Boomers 77

Q4

It was a less than ideal start for the Caps with Pizzey fouling out of the match just nine seconds in but they kept fighting as Sherrie Calleia recorded the first points of the term. Not long after and Burrell also fouled out, leaving the Caps undersized with no more substitutes for the remaining eight-minutes. Down but not out the home side kept in the contest, with Calleia making the most of her opportunity by adding five points to her name. The Boomers moved the ball with speed as they attempted to run out the final term, Mela Goodchild was impressive coming off the bench to have her hand at a three-pointer. A last-minute surge from the Caps threatened to steal back the lead but the Boomers held strong to take the win.

Caps 95 – Boomers 103