Round 1 Recap: Caps fall short to hot shooting Flames in Sydney
The UC Capitals opened their 2024/25 WNBL season on the receiving end of a tough 102-85 defeat at the hands of the Sydney Flames at the Qudos Bank Arena.
The Flames came out firing, hitting seven threes in the first quarter to open a 14-point margin after the first 10 minutes.
The Caps tried to stay afloat, with Jade Melbourne and Nicole Munger leading the way, cutting the lead to single digits multiple times, but Sydney would always find an answer every time to keep the Caps at bay.
In the end the difference in the game was the hot start from Sydney, as the early cushion proved too big of a margin for the Caps to overcome.
Here’s how the game played out.
First quarter
The Sydney Flames got off the gates hot, hitting four 3s in the first three and a half minutes of the game to open a 14-3 lead forcing an early Caps timeout.
Jade Melbourne opened her account off the timeout with an and-1, but the Flames continued to wax hot from deep, hitting a couple more threes to open up a 12-point lead.
The Caps got a couple of baskets from Nyadiew Puoch and Nicole Munger, but the Sydney offense continued to click, getting to the paint and carving up the Caps with backdoor cuts and kickouts to open 3s.
Former Caps Shaniece Swain and Mikaela Reuf combined for 17 points, as the Flames lead 35-21.
Second quarter
The Capitals opened the second quarter strong, with Chantel Horvat getting a steal and converting a transition layup followed by back-to-back threes from Nicole Munger to cut the lead to 10, 39-29, forcing a Sydney timeout inside the first three minutes of the quarter.
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The next few minutes featured back and forth buckets from both teams, Charli Collier finally got on the scoreboard with two free throws to cut the lead down to single digits with under five minutes left.
However, a foul on a box-out followed by a technical foul forced Collier to the bench with four fouls minutes later, and the Flames opened a double-digit lead again.
Katie Deeble did her best to get the Caps back in the game with back-to-back threes, cutting the lead down to eight with under two minutes left, but the Flames closed the half on a 7-0 run to build the lead back up to 15.
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Munger and Melbourne led the Caps with 11 and 10 points respectively, while former Caps Reuf and Swain led the Flames with 15 and 13.
Third quarter
The Flames kept their foot on the pedal to open the third quarter, feasting on back cuts and transition baskets to open a 20-point lead.
Melbourne tried to keep the Caps in the game with a pair of threes and a layup, but Sydney had an answer every time, and closed the quarter up big, 81-62.
Fourth quarter
The Caps tried to mount a comeback to start the fourth, with Puoch hitting a couple of transition baskets, and Deeble hitting a pullup midrange jumper to trim the deficit down to 15.
Nicole Munger continued her hot shooting with two threes bringing the Caps to within 11 both times, but veterans Ruef and Cayla George answered with their own threes both times to keep the Caps at bay.
Final score Sydney Flames 102, UC Capitals 85
Key performers:
UC Capitals
Nicole Munger 24 points, 8-11 fgs, 6-9 3s, 2 rebounds
Jade Melbourne 20 points, 6-12 fgs, 6 rebs, 4 asts, 1 steal, 1 block
Sydney Flames
Mikala Ruef 25 points 9-11 fgs 10 rebs 5 asts
Cayla George 23 points 11 rebs 5 asts 2 steals 2 blocks
Key stat: Sydney had 46 points in the paint and shot 25-35 from inside the arc.
Next game: UC Capitals vs Bendigo Spirit, 6.30pm Friday 8 November, AIS Arena