Ouch! Swain's 7-12 from three buries Geelong

Written By

Peter Brown

basketball.com.au

Ouch! Swain's 7-12 from three buries Geelong

Shaneice Swain of the Flames celebrates with team mates at full-time of the round five WNBL match between Sydney Flames and Geelong United at Quay Centre, on November 30, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Flames destroy Geelong United by 35 in Round 5

Sydney Flames dominate Geelong United with a decisive 90-55 victory.
Shaneice Swain leads with 25 points goes 7-for-12 from three
Geelong struggles with a low 26% field goal percentage

It wasn't close and was brutal. The Sydney Flames demolished Geelong United by 35 — 90-55 — in their WNBL Round Five clash (Game Centre) at Quaycentre in Sydney on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

The Flames led wire to wire after Shaneice Swain made the first bucket seven seconds in, off the opening tip.

United did get to within one — 7-6 — on Haley Jones' jumper but that was pretty much it. Sydney finished the quarter on a 16-6 run, outscored Geelong by three in the second but the third quarter was a wipe-out.

Geelong shot an anaemic 11.8% from the field and scored just five points while Sydney dished seven assists on a 25-point quarter to double-up United 68-34 after three.

The Flames moved to 2-4, going above United on for against.

Shaneice Swain was outstanding pouring in 25 points on 58.3% from three (7-for-12). Four Flames ended in double figures: Swain; Emma Clarke (14); Yemiyah Morris (14); and Australian Opal Cayla George (13). Morris' 14-point performance was the front end of a solid double-double. She also grabbed 10 boards.

Shaneice Swain of the Flames goes to the reverse during the round five WNBL match between Sydney Flames and Geelong United at Quay Centre, on November 30, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Sydney did a job on Keely Froling. Froling make United go, coming in with a season average of 16 but she was held to 11 on 2-for-7 from the field, and 7-for-8 at the free throw line. She had 12 rebounds to cap a 16-12 double-double. Daniel Raber chipped in with 10 and Gemma Potter 10 but for Potter it came on 4-for-18 from the field, including a rough 1-for-7 from three. Froling is in the top 10 for points per game, second in rebounding (11.3), No.1 on the offensive boards (4.0), top 10 in blocks (1.1), minutes (32.6); and free throw percentage (79.5).

But it's near impossible to compete when your team shoots just 26% from the field and 13.6% from behind the arc against any ball club on the road, or at home.

Even more difficult when the Flames went 47.1% from the field and 44% from three.

Looking Ahead

The Sydney Flames' (2-4) next challenge is a Round Six home game against (5-1) Perth Lynx (Game Centre) on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Quaycentre.

Geelong United (2-4) face (1-5) Adelaide Lightning (Game Centre) on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Geelong Arena. The Lightning are coming off back-to-back losses against the Townsville Fire including the heart-breaker buzz-beating loss on Courtney Woods bank shot from the right block.