ALTHOUGH a win was not quite earned for the UC Capitals when they took on the Sydney Uni Flames, a promising sign came in the form of teenager Shaneice Swain‘s strong performance on the offensive end.

The Flames were slightly too good for a Capitals side still struggling to gather momentum in season 2022/23, but Swain’s ability to lead the offence gives the team a different look moving forward and some more dynamism offensively.

Swain was excellent with ball in hand, firing from behind the three-point line as she has done at both WNBL and FIBA level in the past, and leading her team on the offensive end with a team-high points total.

Sydney Uni Flames (81) def. UC Capitals (70)

Shaneice Swain – 21 points, five rebounds

Swain’s 21 points were given a boost by her excellent work shooting the ball, nailing five of her nine attempts from behind the arc.

With the likes of Jade Melbourne controlling the offence, it freed up an overlooked Swain to remain free on the perimeter and punish the opposition. Her shooting motion looked as consistent as ever, and the 19-year-old appeared comfortable in putting up an attempt from the field despite being one of the youngest players on the court.

With a number of players rotating through defending her, Swain simply remained ready for a pass from a teammate, and even showed a capability to create her own shot. Off the dribble, Swain took on the opposition and found weaknesses in the Flames defence at times.

Shooting 7/16 from the field, the Queensland native was not the most accurate shooter from the field, but was still UC’s most reliable avenue to scoring. She was also a contributor on the glass, pulling down five boards, all on the defensive end.

Impressively, she did this all in just 26 minutes of play, wasting no time on the court. It was her best performance of the season, with Swain poised for a breakout campaign in the last few months.

The Capitals are in the midst of a difficult season to date, but Swain’s excellent performance on Friday night gave the side another consistent source of scoring. They looked a much better side when looking for her in offensive sets, and should continue to work her into the scoring plays in the coming weeks. Around the perimeter, she was as deadly as anyone on the court, and appears to be playing to her strengths now.