Caps win! Munger calls game with dagger three

• Nicole Munger drills game-winning three with seven seconds left in Geelong.
• Capitals erase late deficit after Heal splits free throws at 0:16.
• Aokuso dominates with 18 points and 14 rebounds in clutch road victory.

NBL1 East Women's MVP Nicole Munger busted a catch-and-shoot three to win for the UC Capitals on the road to Geelong Venom 76-75 in WNBL26 on Sunday, December 7, 2025 in Geelong.

Munger, who plays for Newcastle Falcons in NBL1, hit nothing but the bottom with two seconds left after Australian Opals and Geelong Venom guard Shyla Heal missed the front end of a pair of free throws just seconds earlier. She made the second to make it 75-73.

Key Turning Points

• Sharp’s 3 at 3:30 gave Geelong a 6-point cushion — their last major momentum play.
• Blicavs’ steal + layup and Holmes’ three briefly stabilised the Venom.
• Melbourne & Sissoko combination generated 5 critical points in 40 seconds.
• Munger’s go-ahead 3 with 0:07 proved the dagger.
• Holmes’ turnover at 0:03 ended Geelong’s final chance.

Final 3:30 Summary — Geelong Venom vs UC Capitals

With 3:30 left, Geelong held a narrow lead when Alex Sharp drilled a three off a Jaz Shelley assist, pushing the Venom ahead 69–63.

Capitals Fightback (3:26 – 2:51)

• After a timeout, Canberra immediately responded.
• Zitina Aokuso scored inside at 3:07 (Sharp’s turnover moments earlier had opened the door), trimming it to 69–65.
• Sara Blicavs then had a massive stretch:
  • Steal at 2:56.
  • Finished a Brancatisano assist with a transition layup at 2:51, cutting it to 69–67.
• The Capitals’ defence tightened, forcing misses from Shelley and Holmes while Sharp grabbed a big defensive rebound at 2:31.

Capitals Take Control (2:05 – 1:25)

Momentum shifted sharply:

• Mackenzie Holmes buried a three (assist Heal) at 2:05 to give Geelong a 72–67 buffer.
• But Canberra kept coming:
  • Aokuso dominated the glass and was fouled at 1:25, hitting 1 of 2, closing it to 74–68.
  • Kadi Sissoko grabbed an offensive rebound on the missed second free throw.
  • Moments later, Jade Melbourne delivered a clutch three off a Sissoko assist at 0:48, pulling Canberra within 74–71.

Lead Changes in the Final 30 Seconds

• With 30 seconds left, Rotunno missed a driving layup and Aokuso secured the defensive rebound.
• Canberra capitalised instantly:
  • Melbourne found Aokuso, who finished a layup at 0:19, cutting the margin to 74–73.
• On the next Venom possession, Shyla Heal drew a foul at 0:16:
  • Missed the first (74–73)
  • Made the second (75–73)

Canberra’s Game-Winner (0:07)

• After a timeout, Canberra executed beautifully:
  • Aokuso kicked out to Nicole Munger, who hit a three with 7 seconds left, giving the Capitals a 76–75 lead — their first since early in the period.

Final Seconds (0:03–0:00)

• Geelong, needing a miracle, saw Mackenzie Holmes turn the ball over with 2 seconds left, sealing the Capitals’ comeback.
• Canberra ran out the clock and escaped with the one-point win.

Key Details

• Result: UC Capitals 76 def. Geelong Venom 75
• When: Saturday, 7th December 2025
• Where: Geelong Arena, Geelong
• Attendance: 1,275
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Zitina Aokuso (UC Capitals) starred with 18 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals in 36 minutes.
• Jazmin Shelley (Geelong Venom) scored 23 points, and had four rebounds, two assists, four steals and three blocks in 37 minutes.

What Happened

The thrilling encounter at Geelong Arena saw 19 lead changes throughout the contest, with the Capitals claiming a dramatic one-point victory despite trailing for the majority of the game. Geelong controlled proceedings for over 31 minutes of game time, establishing early momentum with an 18-16 first quarter advantage before extending their lead to 35-32 at halftime.

The Venom maintained their edge heading into the final period, leading 53-48 after three quarters. However, the Capitals produced a stellar fourth quarter performance, outscoring the home team 25-22 to steal the victory. The visitors' ability to execute under pressure proved decisive in the closing stages.

Aokuso's dominant presence in the paint was instrumental in the Capitals' success. The centre shot an efficient 6-from-9 from two-point range while dominating the glass with 14 boards, including four offensive rebounds. Her 18-point, 14-rebound double-double anchored UC Capitals' interior game and provided crucial second-chance opportunities.

For Geelong, Shelley delivered an outstanding all-around performance with 23 points on solid shooting, connecting on 4-from-9 from downtown. Her defensive impact was equally impressive, recording four steals and three blocks to constantly disrupt the Capitals' offensive flow. Shyla Heal contributed 17 points and five assists, while Mackenzie Holmes added 15 points and 13 rebounds in a strong interior showing.

The Capitals received valuable contributions from their supporting cast, with Jade Melbourne providing 16 points and five assists, and Sara Blicavs chipping in 15 points and seven boards. Melbourne's 5-from-11 shooting from the field and three assists helped keep UC Capitals within striking distance throughout the contest.

Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with Geelong shooting 33% from deep (8-from-24) and the Capitals converting at 31% (8-from-26). The visitors' superior ball movement proved crucial, recording 21 assists compared to Geelong's 16, while also maintaining better ball control with just 15 turnovers against the Venom's 17.

The rebounding battle was closely contested, with UC Capitals edging Geelong 43-39 on the boards. The Capitals' 16 offensive rebounds to Geelong's 11 provided crucial extra possessions that ultimately proved decisive in the narrow victory.

Despite leading for the vast majority of the contest, Geelong couldn't close out the game in the final quarter. The Venom's inability to convert their time advantage into a comfortable margin allowed the Capitals to remain within striking distance and execute when it mattered most.