Fire burns nets in crushing 34-point win at home

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Alex Fowler went 7-from-8, Courtney Woods 8-from-12, Miela Sowah 8-from-14, Abbey Ellis 4-from-6, Lauren Cox 3-from-4 and Lucy Olsen 4-from-7.

Game over.

The Townsville Fire, playing its first game at home in WNBL26, hammered the Adelaide Lightning 103-69 on 38-from-62 from the field, including a white-hot 72% (26-from-26) two-point field goal percentage.

The Fire led 47-43 at the half but then held Adelaide to just 26 in the second half while pouring in 56 points of their own. Six Fire stars scored in double figures: Sowah (19); Woods (19); Fowler (17); Ellis (14); Cox (11); and Olsen (11).

"Hard to pick one," Fire head coach Shannon Seebohm said of which of his players stood out.

"Alex had a great game — she’s reliable, consistent, and one of the most efficient players I’ve coached. But several players contributed, which we see at practice every day. With our style and pace, we have many scoring options.

"To be the best team we can be, we need to improve defensively. That will unlock even more offensively."

The Fire came into the game 4-1 (all on the road) and showed just how tough they are going to be at home.

Seebohm said the Fire needed to make some adjustments at half-time after the Lightning surged late in the second quarter to cut the lead to four.

"A lot more effort and intensity defensively," he said.

"At half-time we weren’t happy with how we defended. Offensively we were getting good shots and scoring enough, but we weren’t defending the way we want to.

"After half-time, to the girls’ credit, they applied themselves far better. We made a stronger impact on the scoreboard and restricted Adelaide’s scoring.

"It was an exciting first half, but we needed a defensive adjustment, and fortunately it paid off."

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 103 def. Adelaide Lightning 69
• When: 15th November 2025
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire) starred with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in 30 minutes.
• Dallas Loughridge (Adelaide Lightning) scored 26 points, had three rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes.

What Happened

Townsville established control early, taking a 26-22 lead after the first quarter and maintaining a 47-43 advantage at halftime. The Fire then blew the game open in the third period, outscoring the Lightning 31-15 to build an insurmountable 20-point cushion heading into the final frame.

The third quarter proved decisive as Townsville's defence stifled Adelaide, limiting them to just 15 points while the Fire's offence caught fire. They continued their dominant performance in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors 25-11 to seal the comprehensive victory.

Alexandra Fowler was outstanding for Townsville, shooting a perfect 7-from-7 from the field for 17 points while adding five rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in a stellar all-round display. Her plus/minus of +40 highlighted her tremendous impact on the court.

The Fire's balanced attack proved too much for Adelaide to handle, with Miela Sowah and Courtney Woods each contributing 19 points, while Abbey Ellis added 14 points on efficient shooting. Townsville's superior shooting efficiency was evident in their impressive 72.2% success rate from two-point range (26-from-36) compared to Adelaide's 42.1% (16-from-38).

Townsville's ball movement was exceptional, generating 27 assists to Adelaide's 14, while also forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into easy transition opportunities. The Fire dominated every facet of the game, building their largest lead to 34 points and maintaining control for nearly 34 minutes of game time.

Despite Dallas Loughridge's valiant 26-point effort for Adelaide, including three triples and six assists, the Lightning couldn't match Townsville's firepower or defensive intensity. Steph Talbot and Sania Feagin each contributed 14 points in the losing effort, but Adelaide's 19 turnovers and poor shooting in the second half ultimately doomed their chances.

The victory improved Townsville's impressive home record at the Townsville Entertainment Centre, where they played before a supportive crowd of 2,971 fans. The Fire's combination of balanced scoring, efficient shooting, and stifling defence proved to be the winning formula in this dominant performance.