{"id":26438,"date":"2021-12-20T09:57:06","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T23:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/?p=26438"},"modified":"2021-12-20T10:01:04","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T00:01:04","slug":"townsville-out-fire-the-flames-to-remain-undefeated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/townsville-out-fire-the-flames-to-remain-undefeated\/","title":{"rendered":"Townsville out Fire the Flames to remain undefeated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE Townsville Fire<\/a> remain the only undefeated side so far this WNBL season, after they defeated the Sydney Uni Flames<\/a> by 19 points, 75-56.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first term, Townsville had the first shot and missed. But, a turnover from Sydney caused by a bad pass able to redeem that and get on the scoreboard. It took a whole lot of action and another minute and a half after that before either team scored again. Shyla Heal<\/a> nailed a three point shot to give the Flames the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead changed a couple of times within the next minute or so. But, the Flames were able to regain control and hold a three-point lead. The Flames kept extending their lead all the way out to seven points before Sug Sutton<\/a> made a two-point lay up for the Fire to stop the scoring run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fire kept trying to close the gap, but the Flames had all the answers on the scoreboard. As the quarter time buzzer rang out, it was the Flames who held a six-point margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fire were able to turn things around though in the second term, and by the time the long break came around the margin was much more in their favour, to the tune of eight points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fire managed to stretch out their lead to as much as 14 points in the third term. Sydney Uni tried to reel it back in, but could not get very close to the Fire\u2019s score. The margin got down to as low as seven points, but by the time the end of the quarter came the margin was nine points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fourth quarter Townsville were able to restrict Sydney\u2019s scoring like the Flames could not really do back, and in the end the victory went to the Fire by 19 points<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Townsville, Monique Billings<\/a> was the star on the scoring front. She scored 21 points, while Nadeen Payne<\/a> shot 18 points and Sug Sutton shot 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the visitors, Heal was top scorer with 12, while Keely Froling<\/a> shot 11 and Chelsea Dungee<\/a> shot 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Billings was also the rebound queen for the Fire, with a total of nine rebounds for the match. She was matched by the top rebounder for the Flames, Kalani Purcell<\/a>, who also recorded nine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shooting percentages for both sides were rather low. Townsville\u2019s field goal percentage was only 48 per cent, but Sydney Uni’s was even lower. The Flames’ ran at only 32 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both sides had a two point shot percentage that was a little higher than that, but their three point shot percentage was significantly lower. In terms of two-point percentages, it was Townsville at 58 per cent, versus Sydney\u2019s which was 43 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Townville\u2019s three-point shot percentage was a mere 20 per cent, but the Flames\u2019 percentage was even lower than that at 15 per cent. They also had significantly more three point shots than Townsville did (26), so that will be something coach Shane Heal<\/em><\/strong> may want to take a look at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither team have to wait long to take the court once again, with both sides playing again on Wednesday. The Flames play hosts to the Melbourne Boomers, while the Fire have to travel down to Melbourne to play the Flyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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