15 October 2007 By Verena Stocker
The ACUVUE Sydney Uni Flames hustled to the end to defeat Melbourne’s Bulleen Boomers 75-71 in their third round Women’s National Basketball League tussle at the Sports and Aquatic Centre on Saturday night.
The Flames head the 2007-08 WNBL ladder, having accounted for Canberra Capitals (82-65) and the Australian Institute of Sport (79-71) in the opening two rounds of the competition.
Poto skilfully maneuvers towards the basket.
In a high scoring game that went down to the wire, the lead fluctuated throughout. However, the Flames grabbed a vital five-point buffer late in the fourth quarter and held on to win their first home game of the season in front of some boisterous support.
“The first quarter showed us that it was heading for a high-scoring game,” Flames head coach Karen Dalton said. “I told the players that the first team to get to defence was going to win.”
Alicia Poto thrilled the boisterous home crowd picking up a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Poto was well supported by Natalie Porter who top-scored for the Flames with 16 points.
Young-gun Rachel Herrick also made a valuable contribution clocking 12 points on the board.
Veal shows her experience on court.
“It was a good contribution from all the players,” Dalton said. “But we really suffered defensively in the first half and we’ll need to do better next week when we play Canberra.”
The first quarter saw the Flames post the first points with a quick run by Porter followed by a three-pointer from Kristen Veal. However, it did not all go the Flames with the two teams trading points. Bulleen picked up some early personal fouls, but went to the break with a one-point lead - 21-20.
The visitors opened the scoring in the second quarter, but a three-pointer and goals to Herrick saw the Flames take the lead. Both sides held four-point leads during the quarter before a quick succession of shots in the final minute of the term saw Bulleen take a 46-42 lead into the second half.
Bulleen held a four-point buffer for most of the third quarter before baskets from Michelle Musselwhite and Melissa Smith sent the Flames into the final term with a 60-56 lead.
Smith opened the scoring for the Flames in the final term, but accurate shooting from the three-point line saw Bulleen edge back. Tension mounted as the clock ticked down and the lead changed hands. The Flames levelled the scores with two minutes remaining and took a five-point lead thanks to Poto.
The Boomers hit back with a three-pointer with 25 seconds left on the clock, but accurate three throws by Veal saw the Flames triumph.
ACUVUE Sydney Uni Flames 75 (Natalie Porter 16, Alicia Poto 14, Rachel Herrick 12) d Bulleen Boomers 71 (Desiree Glaubitz 16, Elyse Penaluna 16, Emma Randall 15) at Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre.