The Sydney Flames have suffered their first defeat of WNBL25, losing 83-75 to the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on Saturday.
Match summary
Cayla George's free-throws got Sydney off the mark, before Celeste Taylor added a driving lay-up and then dished to Isa Brancatisano for a triple - making it 7-all. Both sides then traded triples, with Brancatisano and Cayla George nailing them for the Hoops Capital side. Inside scores by the latter and Mikaela Ruef followed, before Shaneice Swain snaked her way to the hoop and landed a triple of her own. The LA Sparks draft pick then took control of the game, dishing a perfectly weighted dime Yemiyah Morris before converting an and-one - to give Guy Molloy's side the 26-21 led at quarter-time.
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Morris' lay-in, off a Carla Pitman dish, put Sydney up by seven, but then the hosts rattled off seven straight, to level it at 28-all. The Flyers' onslaught continued, as they took the lead thanks to Bec Cole, Naz Hillmon and Maddy Rocci. Triples by Sherrie Calleia and Pitman kept Molloy's side within striking distance. Despite these efforts, the Flames trailed by six (45-39) at the main break.
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Rocci's three in the first play of the second stretched the lead to nine but George cancelled that out with a three of her own, following a one-handed pass from Ruef. Another three by the Flames' Australian Opal ensued, as George scored the harbour city side's first 12 points of the third. A score by Morris and corner three of sharp-shooter Emma Clarke brought Sydney back to within three (59-56). The hosts ended the term on an 8-2 run, to lead 67-58 at the final change.
Score by Swain and Pitman, combined with tough Sydney defence, closed the margin early in the fourth, before Swain nailed another triple to make it 71-65. The back-and-forth contest saw both teams trade buckets, with the intensity stepping up a notch - capped by a Brancatisano jumper. Clutch free-throws by Ruef and Swain kept it close, as did a triple by George but too many turnovers (21-10) cost the visitors late, as the Flyers won by eight.
Where the match was decided
Apart from committing 11 more turnobers than their opponents, the Flames lost the match on the back of inferior field goal percentage (43-40), steals (10-3), points in the paint (36-22) and points off turnovers (24-9).
Key moment
A 24-13 second term gave the hosts the momentum and lead in the match, which they never relinquished.
Players of the game
George was the standout for the Flames in the loss, tallying 22 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and one block.
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Others to score in double-figures were Swain (16) and birthday girl Brancatisano (11).
What's next
The Flames, who are now 1-1, now return to the harbour city for their first game at Quaycentre for WNBL25, hosting Bendigo from 7pm - with tickets still available here.
