8
Jan
Stats Stuffer
Jaz hands Geelong United win with seven steals
Jazmin Shelley of Geelong United drives to the basket during the round 11 WNBL match between Southside Flyers and Geelong United at State Basketball Centre, on January 08, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
Geelong holds off Southside 76-70 in clutch WNBL25 win
- United wins its fifth game of WNBL25
- Jazmin Shelley is stand-out performer with 20 points and SEVEN steals
- Southside's Dallas Loughridge led all scorers with 22
Jazmin Shelley stuffed the stat sheet in Geelong United's 76-70 win (Game Centre) against Southside Flyers round 11 of WNBL at Geelong Arena on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
The 24-year-old guard, drafted by the Phoenix Mercury at No.29 in the 2024 WNBA Draft, poured in a team-high 20 points, dished out seven assists and pilfered an exceptional seven steals.
Shelley hit a rainbow three, her only make of the game, with about a minute to go to put United up 72-67 and the game out of reach for Southside.
Shelley's 20 points came on 7-from-15 from the field, including 1-from-7 from three and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with neither team able to establish a significant lead for much of the contest. Southside's Dallas Loughridge caught fire early, draining three consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter to give the Flyers an early edge. However, Geelong's balanced attack, led by Shelley and Gemma Potter, kept them within striking distance.
The turning point came midway through the fourth quarter when Geelong went on a 10-2 run. Southside's Naz Hillmon tried to will her team back into the game with some tough baskets in the paint, but Geelong's defence held firm in the closing moments.
Alice Kunek hit a big three late in the ball game but the reigning premiers came up short.
Statistically, the game was as close as the final score suggests. Geelong shot 40% from the field compared to Southside's 43.9%, but the home team's ability to get to the free-throw line proved crucial. United attempted 23 free throws, converting 18, while the Flyers only managed 14 makes on 21 attempts. The turnover battle was also significant, with Geelong forcing 22 Southside turnovers while committing only 14 themselves.
For the Flyers, Dallas Loughridge led the scoring with 22 points, including a blistering 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Naz Hillmon contributed a double-double with 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Tera Reed added 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the losing effort.
The win pushes Geelong United to 5-8 and Southside to 4-10.
