Sirens’ Heartbreak
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
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The Canberra Capitals saved the best til last in their Australian Defence Force WNBL round-two clash against the Christchurch Sirens, outscoring the visitors 25-9 in the final quarter to post their second victory of the season.
The Capitals fought back from a 14-point deficit to win 76-63 on the back of another strong defensive effort and a game-high 22 points from Canberra’s own Nat Hurst.
The Sirens started the game strongly, but as they did in their losses to the Townsville Fire and the AIS, faded in the last quarter, scoring less than 20 per cent of field-goal attempts and struggling to contain the Capitals – both big and small.
Tracey Beatty stepped up in the second half to support Hurst with 16 points and 9 rebound, while Abby Bishop, who was rested for the last quarter, scored 14 points and five rebounds in her 23 minutes of court time.
Capitals coach Carrie Graf said she was happy to come away with the win and had been pleased with the side’s defence but felt the side still lacked offensive chemistry.
ìIt was good to get the win, I think we did a good job on them defensively, our defensive intensity was there once again, but we’re still lacking on our offensive flow and on the rebounds,î she said.
ìAbby [Bishop] did a good job on the boards in the second quarter but we still need all our bigs to step up in that aspect. It was good to see Tracey [Beatty] decide to get involved in the offence in the second half, I think in the first half we weren’t looking to our bigs enough and we’re turning over too much ball.
ìIn the first half we weren’t looking to our bigs enough and we’re turning over too much ball while our defence was good they were just hitting them over the top.î
ìNat Hurst did a great job in that last quarter, she was a bit quiet at the start but she stepped up and really got us over line.î
Jess Bibby was still feeling the ill effects of a virus which kept her out of the Capitals’ win against the AIS on Wednesday and failed to suit up for the game, making way for Hurst in the starting five.
The Capitals started with a fast-paced game, but their offence was littered with wayward passes and turnovers throughout the first half which gave the Sirens the advantage.
Sirens’ American import Ashleigh Awkward proved a handful early on for the Capitals and was quick to put her side in the lead on the back of nine points for the first quarter.
Awkward was well-supported by former Capital Donna Wilkins, who finished the game with 17 points and six rebounds, and fellow American Lamisha Augustine, who had 9 points and 11 rebounds.
The Sirens broke out to a 17-11 lead, before the momentum took a quick swing in favour of the Capitals after Tully Bevilaqua grabbed a defensive rebound and sped to the other end of the court, scoring a three-point play after being fouled while making a successful lay-up.
There was not much separating the teams in the stats at quarter time but the Sirens went into the first break up 22-19.
Awkward was restricted to just two points in the second quarter but Sirens captain Kate Mckeen-Ruscoe stepped up leading the side to their biggest lead of the game, 14 points, with two minutes until half time.
The Capitals fought back through Hurst and Bishop to trail 42-38 at half time.
Both sides played with determination in a scrappy third quarter but a desperate Sirens defence was unable to hold off a fast Capitals attack.
Canberra outscored the Sirens 17-12 to close an eight-point deficit to three going into the final quarter.
The Capitals gained the lead for the first time since the first quarter when Hurst sunk her second three-pointer of the game with a minute gone in the final term.
Christchurch’s scoring seemed to dry up in the last quarter as the Capitals tempo lifted and they ran away with the game. The Sirens adding just nine points, including five from the free-throw lines, to their tally compared to Canberra’s 25.
Canberra Capitals 76 (Nat Hurst 22, Tracey Beatty 16, Abby Bishop 14) Christchurch Sirens 63 (Donna Wilkins 17, Ashley Awkward 12, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe 10)
Meanwhile, NZ Tall Fern Lisa Pardon led the expansion Bendigo Spirit franchise to their second win of the WNBL, a 75-73 nailbiter over Townsville Fire.
Pardon was the Spiritís top scorer with 19 points (7/13 FG, 1/3 3pt, 4/7 FT), four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 38 minutes. Bendigo are now 2-0 for the season.
