18
Jan
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Courtney show leads Fire out of the Woods
Courtney Woods of the Fire celebrates after a play during the round 14 WNBL match between the Townsville Fire and Canberra Capitals at RAC Arena on January 18, 2026 in Perth, Australia. Photo: James Worsfold/Getty Images
Highlights
Townsville skipper Courtney Wood starred with a double-double to escape a tough UC Capitals outfit
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Match Recap
Townsville Fire defeated UC Capitals 78-69 at RAC Arena. Courtney Woods' exceptional 20-point, 10-assist double-double powered the Fire to victory.
Key Details
- Result: Townsville Fire 78 def. UC Capitals 69
- When: Saturday, 18th January 2026
- Where: RAC Arena, Perth
- Standings: Townsville Fire | UC Capitals
By the Numbers
- Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire) starred with 20 points, five rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals in 38 minutes.
- Kadiatou Sissoko (UC Capitals) scored 15 points, and had six rebounds in 27 minutes.
What Happened
The Fire established early momentum, taking a 22-19 advantage after the opening quarter before maintaining their edge through a closely contested first half. Both teams traded baskets in the second period, with the Fire holding a slender 39-36 lead at the main break.
UC Capitals mounted their strongest challenge in the third quarter, outscoring Townsville 28-24 to cut the deficit to just two points heading into the final period. The momentum shift appeared to favour the visitors as they capitalised on improved offensive efficiency and defensive pressure.
However, the Fire delivered a masterful fourth-quarter performance, dominating the final 10 minutes with a decisive 15-5 scoring advantage. This clutch period effectively sealed the nine-point victory as UC Capitals managed just five points in the closing stages, their offence grinding to a halt when it mattered most.
Courtney Woods orchestrated Townsville's offense with precision, recording an outstanding double-double of 20 points and 10 assists while shooting efficiently from the charity stripe at 8-from-8. Alicia Froling provided solid support with 14 points and six rebounds, while Alexandra Fowler contributed 11 points and six boards in an efficient display.
For UC Capitals, Kadiatou Sissoko led the scoring effort with 15 points on 6-from-12 shooting from the field, but her teammates struggled to provide consistent offensive support. Jayda Clark added 12 points and seven assists, while both Nyadiew Puoch and Zitina Aokuso chipped in with 11 points each.
The Fire's superior shooting proved decisive, converting 47.62% from the field compared to UC Capitals' 40.38%. Townsville also held the edge from beyond the arc, shooting 31.25% from three-point range while limiting the Capitals to 23.53% from downtown. Despite UC Capitals dominating the boards 49-30, they struggled to control the ball with 22 turnovers compared to Townsville's 17.
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