UC Capitals score back-to-back wins
The UC Capitals have pulled together their second consecutive win of the season after taking down the Adelaide Lightning 84-73.
There were fears the match wouldn’t even go ahead after a power outage at the National Convention Centre ruled the venue out. However, a quick relocation to Radford College allowed 1,515 fans to still cheer the team on for their final home game of the year.
Starting five for the Caps was Jade Melbourne, Alex Sharp, Alex Fowler, Nicole Munger and Monica Okoye. For Adelaide it was Jocelyn Willoughby, Isobel Borlase, Brianna Turner, Isabelle Bourne and Lauren Mansfield.
Q1
Both teams were a mirror image to begin the first quarter, with Sharp opening the scoring on a layup for the Caps before Willoughby instantly replied with the same down the other end. Next Okoye dropped a three-pointer for the Caps, just for Willoughby to knock down one of her own. Adelaide’s young guns started to light up the floor for the visitors, with Borlase and Bourne each dropping points and causing trouble in defence. Gemma Potter came off the bench for the Caps with huge impact, creating multiple opportunities for her team as they went on the attack. Munger pushed the lead out to double digits with sixty seconds to go, and the Caps managed to thwart Adelaide’s shot attempt before the break.
Caps 24 – Adelaide 14
Q2
Coming out of the first break, the visitors tipped off the scoring with Brooke Basham adding her first points of the night. The next two plays for each team ended with a set of free throws, with Sharp and Willoughby successfully making both shots. In offence the Caps kept their rotations going which made space inside the key, paying off with multiple shot attempts under the rim. Adelaide shared the scoring between their starting players and picked up a smothering defence that left the Caps struggling to inbound the ball. It was point-for-point to finish the quarter, with the Caps managing to keep their 10-point lead.
Leading scorers for the Caps was Melbourne with 17 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, and Sharp with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. For Adelaide, Borlase led with 8 points, 2 rebounds, Willoughby with 7 points,
Caps 43 – Adelaide 33
Q3
It took almost two minutes for the first points of the second half, with Borlase converting a layup for the visitors before Munger delivered a three-point shot in style right as the shot clock expired. Okoye began to flex her talent, muscling down in offence to get herself to the free throw line before dropping a three-pointer on the next possession. The margin continued to remain at ten points as both teams battled it out, but with two minutes remaining the Caps put their foot down and scored a trio of three-pointers in as many minutes. Adelaide finished off the quarter with a free throw from Bourne to put the margin at 15 points.
Caps 66 – Adelaide 51
Q4
It was an action-packed start to the final term, with Willoughby opening the scoring with a three-point play after making a layup and converting a free throw. Potter created the same play for the Caps, before Melbourne managed to bring the crowd to life with a step-back three-pointer. Sharp continued to dominate the rebounds to earn possession of the ball back just for Fowler to go to work in offence to add points to her tally. For the visitors, Willoughby fought hard to bring her team back into the contest by driving the full length of the floor. Borlase also continued to feature in the action for Adelaide, stealing the ball in offence and going on a successful fast break. The intensity never waivered in the final minutes with Adelaide breaking into a full court press but it wasn’t enough to stop the Caps from running away with a
Leading scorers for the Caps were Melbourne with 31 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, Sharp with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists, and Okoye with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. For the Lightning, Mansfield had 16 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound and Borlase with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist.