Townsville's tit for tat: WNBL Rd.14 Wrap
TweetCANBERRA Capitals have clinched the WNBL's regular season championship and first place for the playoffs, while for reigning champion Townsville, it was a case of "tit for tat" today with Dandenong.
Beaten 77-72 last week at the Fire Station in Townsville by the Rangers, it was a result reversal today in Dandenong where the Fire were superior 81-68.
Zitina Aokuso (below against Canberra) has been one great shining light for Townsville in a season cruelled by injury to the WNBL's greatest player, Suzy Batkovic.
The talented youngster produced a double-double today with 15 points at 67 percent, and 11 rebounds, another burgeoning prodigy Darcee Garbin leading Townsville with 20 points.
Trailing 43-46 at halftime, Townsville rallied with a 23-12 third period, setting up the road win despite Bec Cole again hitting 20 points at 61 percent for the Rangers and Betnijah Laney with nine points, 11 boards and five assists.
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Today's results, with Canberra taking out Sydney in Belinda Snell's last WNBL game in Sin City, closed the door on the WNBL's top two.
The final regular season round's result between Perth and Adelaide in Perth - neutral referees please! - will determine which club finishes third, the loser to finish fourth.
But the playoff structure for the 2018-19, Chemist Warehouse WNBL Semi-Final series is set.
SEMI-FINAL SERIES 1 (1v4):
Game 1
University of Canberra Capitals v Perth Lynx or MAC Adelaide Lightning
Friday, January 25, 7pm AEDT
AIS Arena
Game 2
Perth Lynx or MAC Adelaide Lightning v University of Canberra Capitals
Wednesday, January 30. Time TBA
Location TBA
Game 3 (if necessary)
University of Canberra Capitals v Perth Lynx or MAC Adelaide Lightning
Saturday, February 2, 7.30pm AEDT
AIS Arena
SEMI-FINAL SERIES 2 (2v3):
Game 1
Deakin Melbourne Boomers v Perth Lynx or MAC Adelaide Lightning
Sunday, January 27, 5pm AEDT
State Basketball Centre
Game 2
Perth Lynx or MAC Adelaide Lightning v Deakin Melbourne Boomers
Thursday, January 31. Time TBA
Location TBA
Game 3 (if necessary)
Deakin Melbourne Boomers v Perth Lynx or MAC Adelaide Lightning
Sunday, February 3, 7.30pm AEDT
State Basketball Centre
Paced by Leilani Mitchell's 24 points and another double-double from Kelsey Griffin, Canberra jumped Sydney with a 30-17 first quarter at Qudos Bank Arena, leaving the Flames playing catch-up the rest of the way.
In her home farewell, Snell played 39 minutes for 15 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three blocks, showing all she would leave the game every inch the champion she has been throughout her stellar career.
In other games, Adelaide beat luckless Bendigo in overtime as Perth stunned Melbourne.
The Boomers reacted by beating Lightning in Adelaide, Canberra took out the Fire in Townsville but the home side drew enough confidence from that performance to beat Dandenong today.
WNBL Round 14
MAC ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 92(Coffey 37, Blicavs 16, Seekamp 11, Alexander 10; Coffey 12 rebs; Seekamp 9 assts) d BENDIGO BANK SPIRIT 81 (Payne 21, Wehrung 16, Tomlinson 14, Whittle 12; Tobin 10 rebs; Hurst 8 assts) in overtime at The Goldmine, Bendigo Stadium.
PERTH LYNX 74 (Taylor 29, Schwagmeyer 14, Ebzery 11; Taylor 8 rebs; Mansfield, McPhee 5 assts) d DEAKIN MELBOURNE BOOMERS 60 (Magbegor 16, O’Hea 12, Garrick 10; O’Hea 8 rebs; Talbot 4 assts) at The Enclosure, Bendat Stadium.
UNIVERSITY of CANBERRA CAPITALS 80 (Mitchell 20, Wilson, Nurse 14, Griffin, Tolo 10; Scherf 10 rebs; Mitchell, Wilson 7 assts) d JCU TOWNSVILLE FIRE 68 (Mincy 15, Aokuso 13, Madgen 11, Garbin 10; Garbin 8 rebs; Donnelly 6 assts) at The Fire Station, Townsville Stadium.
DEAKIN MELBOURNE BOOMERS 98 (Allen 22, Talbot 21, Purcell 13, George 12, O’Hea 11; O’Hea 13 rebs; Allen 8 assts) d MAC ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 83 (Coffey 26, Alexander 21, Nicholson 13, Seekamp 12; Alexander 9 rebs; Seekamp 6 assts) at The Lighthouse, Titanium Security Arena.
UNIVERSITY of CANBERRA CAPITALS 99 (Mitchell 24, Tolo 17, Griffin 16, Nurse 13, Froling 10; Griffin 11 rebs; Mitchell 8 assts) d SYDNEY UNI FLAMES 79 (Tupaea 24, Snell 15, Panousis 14, Greaves 10; Greaves 8 rebs; Snell 10 assts) At The Furnace, Qudos Bank Arena.
JCU TOWNSVILLE FIRE 81 (Garbin 20, Cocks 17, Aokuso 15, Mincy 11; Aokuso 11 rebs; Malott 7 assts) d JAYCO DANDENONG RANGERS 68 (Cole 20, Mijovic 13, Lavey 10; Laney 11 rebs; Laney 5 assts) at The Ranger Station, Dandenong Stadium.