Fire's hair-raising beat down solidifies third

• Courtney woods has 14-11-4 in dominate win against Caps
• Townsville Fire in third at 10-5
• Jade Melbourne goes 1-from-8 for eight points

In a dominant display of offensive firepower, the Townsville Fire scorched the UC Capitals 105-71 at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on Saturday January 18, 2025 in round 12 of WNBL25.

The Fire's relentless attack, led by Courtney Wood's masterful 24-point, 11-assist performance, left the Capitals struggling to keep pace.

From the opening tip, Townsville established their intent, leading 30-27 at the first quarter. However, it was in the second period where the Fire truly ignited, outscoring the Capitals 23-13 to take a commanding 53-40 advantage into halftime. The onslaught continued after the break, with Townsville pouring in 31 third-quarter points to effectively put the game out of reach.

The Fire's offensive efficiency was on full display, as they shot a blistering 53% from the field, including 14 three-pointers. Their ball movement was equally impressive, with the team dishing out 29 assists on 36 made field goals.

Defensively, Townsville controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Capitals 43-36 and limiting second-chance opportunities.

Wood was superb, orchestrating the offense, with a solid double-double. She added four boards, was 4-from-8 from three and 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Lauren Nicholson contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Nia Coffey added 13 points and nine boards. The Fire's bench also played a crucial role, outscoring the Capitals' reserves 34-24, with Saffron Shiels chipping in 14 points on efficient 4-from-5 shooting.

For the UC Capitals, it was a night to forget. Despite a valiant 17-point effort from Nicole Munger, the visitors struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting just 40% from the field and a dismal 20% from three-point range. WNBA guard Jade Melbourne was held to just eight points on 1-from-8 shooting.