The Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames have returned from north of the border empty handed after WNBL defeats at the hands of Townsville and Logan over the weekend.
On Sunday the Flames went down in a nail-biting encounter 70-69 at Logan Metro, after mounting an enormous comeback from 11 points down at half-time, having suffered an eight point loss to the Townsville Fire on Friday night.
After both teams struggled to score in Sunday’s first quarter (which ended 11-10 to Sydney Uni), the Flames struggled in the second quarter before exploding in the third.
Going into the three quarter huddle down by just one point, the girls from Sydney Uni took the lead in the final stanza before Logan came back at the Flames in the final two minutes.
A huge 3-point shot by WNBA player Lauren Koehn put the Thunder up by one with 12 seconds to play and the Flames were unable to get a shot up with their final play as the Thunder managed a thrilling one point victory.
Flames players April Sykes (26 points) and Alicia Poto (12 points) again led the Flames in scoring and defence, while the team clearly missed Rohanee Cox in the final exchanges after she suffered an ankle injury at the start of the third quarter and did not return. She is expected to be fit for Saturday’s return home clash against the Logan Thunder.
Two nights earlier the Flames went down to the Townsville Fire 89-81 after another slow start crippled the girl’s chances of victory.
Down by as many as 17 points in the second quarter, Sydney Uni‘s improved defence and better offensive execution saw the Flames fight back into the game.
With a couple of minutes left on the clock the Flames had clawed their way back into the game to be within just four points of the Fire.
But on the back on some poor foul shooting the Flames fell just short and went down by eight.
Fire guard Mia Newley was hot from the back court, hitting five from six three point shots, to help finish with 31 points, while Flames forward Rohanee Cox stared against one of her former clubs pilling on 22 points and pulling down seven boards.
Team mate April Sykes also had a good game (26 points and six assists) after a slow start.
The Flames will have a chance to bounce back this Saturday night against the Logan Thunder at the Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre (SUSAC).Tip-off is at 7pm for the State of Origin re-match after their one-point loss on Sunday.
You can also support the Flames on Twitter @SydUniFlames or Facebook Sydney Uni Flames WNBL.
