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WNBL ladder leaders Townsville Fireplace prolonged their profitable streak in spherical seven whereas younger star Jade Melbourne led the UC Capitals to their first victory of the season – and paid a worth for it.
Melbourne (30 factors, 10 assists) and fellow co-captain Alex Sharp (12 factors, 13 rebounds) posted double-doubles to steer the Capitals to an 84-72 upset win over the Melbourne Boomers on Friday evening.
The drought-breaking outcome ended a run of eight straight losses to start out the season and left emotional Caps coach Kristen Veal in tears on the closing buzzer.
And in a dramatic post-script, Melbourne was taken hospital after having one in every of her entrance enamel damaged in half in an enormous collision with Boomers guard Jordin Canada.
The 21-year-old Australian Opals guard underwent surgical procedure to restore the harm, whereas Canada was left nursing a sore head and required stitches.
The painful fall-out was value it for Melbourne, who made her WNBA debut with Seattle Storm this yr and is considered one in every of Australia’s brightest younger skills.
Regardless of their breakthrough win, the Caps (1-8) stay final on the ladder.
Townsville (8-1) sit comfortably on the reverse finish after captain Sami Whitcomb guided the reigning champions to a powerful round-seven double with wins over play-off hopefuls Southside and Sydney.
Having suffered their solely defeat of the season up to now to Southside in spherical two, Townsville gained revenge with 105-77 trouncing of the Flyers on their residence ground on Thursday evening.
Stephanie Reid (22 factors) and Whitcomb (21) shone because the Fireplace dominated the primary interval 31-15 and prolonged their lead by every interval.
The Flyers stemmed the move through the closing quarter however the harm had been completed, regardless of American duo Mercedes Russell and Jasmine Dickey scoring 20 factors every.
Whitcomb (18 factors, seven rebounds) starred once more as Townsville backed up on the street with a 70-48 thumping of Sydney on Saturday evening.
Mikaela Reuf (11 factors, 15 rebounds) posted a double-double and Courtney Woods (19, seven) additionally starred, whereas Lauren Nicholson (11 factors) was the one Flames scorer in double figures.
Townsville’s pair of victories prolonged their profitable streak to seven video games as they chase back-to-back titles.
Southside (6-3) recovered on Sunday with 91-81 in a victory away to the Bendigo Spirit behind 24 factors from Maddi Rocci and 22 from Bec Cole.
However the Boomers’ (6-3) week grew worse after their shock loss to the Capitals after they suffered a 68-59 residence defeat to the Adelaide Lightning on Sunday.
The Lightning (3-8) overpowered their hosts with a stifling 15-8 closing interval behind a double-double from Isobel Borlase (21 factors, 12 rebounds).
Their win over the Boomers got here after an 81-77 loss to Bendigo (3-6) in Geelong on Friday evening.
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