'Downtown Abbey' crashes road warrior Flyers

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Townsville star Abbey Ellis knocked down a clutch three to put the Fire in front with 11 seconds to go and Courtney Woods iced it with a pair of free throws to give the Fire its 17th win of the season, escaping Southside Melbourne Flyers 78-75 in Round 16 of WNBL26 on Saturday, January 24, 2026 in Townsville.

The Fire (17-4) moved two games clear of the defending champion Bendigo Spirit (15-4) with two games in hand while the Flyers (8-11) are locked in a battle with UC Capitals (8-11) for the fourth and final playoff spot.

How the fourth quarter unfolded

10:00–8:00 | Townsville strike first, Flyers hang

• Townsville open the quarter with Alexandra Fowler’s trail three (assist Sowah) to nudge in front.
• Southside respond through Isabelle Bourne getting to the line and finishing inside.
• Courtney Woods stabilises Townsville with a pull-up jumper.
• Flyers stay attached via Maddy Rocci attacking the rim and forcing turnovers.
• Score stays one-possession: Townsville +2 to +4 range.

8:00–6:00 | Flyers surge, pressure defence flips momentum

• Haley Peters drills two threes off Rocci assists.
• Southside generate steals and deflections (Rocci, Bourne), forcing Townsville turnovers.
• Isabelle Bourne finishes inside and draws fouls.
• Flyers briefly take control, pushing the margin to +4.
• Townsville rely on Alicia Froling on the glass

6:00–4:00 | Townsville claw back possession by possession

• Abbey Ellis scores twice at the rim and hits a huge corner three (Horvat assist).
• Defensive stops stack up: steals from Ellis and Horvat.
• Froling continues to punish switches inside.
• Lead flips back to Townsville; margin still fragile (+3 to +5).

4:00–2:00 | Shot-making dries up, margins tighten

• Flyers get to the line through Tera Reed, but missed free throws loom large.
• Haley Peters hits a clutch three to keep Southside within one possession.
• Missed looks on both ends; half-court execution dominates.
• Townsville maintain composure, no rushed possessions.

2:00–0:10 | Ellis and Woods swing it

• Abbey Ellis hits a decisive wing three off Courtney Woods’ assist.
• Defensive rebound from Woods, then Woods draws contact in transition.
• Townsville up +3 entering the final minute.
• Flyers miss a key pull-up and a late three attempt.

Final 8 seconds | Ice at the line

• Flyers foul intentionally.
• Courtney Woods calmly sinks both free throws.
• Last-ditch Tera Reed three misses at the buzzer.

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 78 def. Southside Melbourne Flyers 75
• When: Saturday, January 24, 2026
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Attendance: 3,200
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Abbey Ellis (Townsville Fire) starred with 25 points, three steals, and two rebounds in 35 minutes.
• Alicia Froling (Townsville Fire) contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.
• Cayla George (Southside Melbourne Flyers) posted 11 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists.
• Maddy Rocci (Southside Melbourne Flyers) added 15 points and 10 assists.
• Isabelle Bourne (Southside Melbourne Flyers) scored 19 points with nine rebounds.

What Happened

Townsville Fire asserted themselves early, racing to a 25-16 lead in the opening quarter behind a 13-3 run. The hosts’ aggressive defence forced the Flyers into tough looks, while Ellis and Miela Sowah found early rhythm on the offensive end. Southside Melbourne regrouped in the second quarter, responding with a 9-0 run of their own. However, back-to-back triples from Ellis restored Townsville’s momentum, and the Fire carried a 43-36 lead into half-time.

The third quarter saw Southside Melbourne tighten up defensively, holding Townsville to a lacklustre 12 points. The Flyers capitalised on Townsville’s turnover issues, with George and Rocci orchestrating a steady offence. Bourne’s post presence and Peters’ timely shooting helped Southside close the gap, cutting the deficit to just three points by the end of the third.

The final period was a tense, back-and-forth battle. Southside Melbourne briefly snatched the lead with thirty-four seconds left, capping a determined comeback after trailing by as many as twelve. Yet, Ellis delivered in crunch time, draining a clutch three-pointer with eleven seconds remaining to swing the advantage back to Townsville. Woods then calmly converted two free throws to extend the margin, before Tera Reed’s attempt from downtown to tie the game fell short as the buzzer sounded.

Ellis’ performance was both efficient and explosive, going 4-from-7 inside the arc and 5-from-7 from deep for an outstanding 57.1% field goal percentage. Froling’s dominance on the glass (nine boards) and Sowah’s all-round effort (14 points, four assists, four rebounds) underpinned the Fire’s balanced attack. For the Flyers, George was a force in the paint, cleaning the glass for a massive seventeen rebounds and dishing out six dimes, while Rocci’s double-double showcased her ability to orchestrate the Flyers’ offence.

Team strategy played a decisive role, with Townsville shooting a solid 45.5% from outside (10-from-22) and 46.2% overall from the field. Southside matched their field goal output at 45.2% (19-from-42) but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 40% (8-from-20). Townsville’s turnover count reached fifteen, making ball control an issue, but their ability to convert from the charity stripe (75%) and their defensive intensity in key moments proved the difference.

With this result, Townsville Fire cement their lead atop the WNBL standings at 17-4, while the Flyers remain locked in the battle for fourth at 8-11. Southside’s loss—third in their last four—raises questions about their ability to beat top-three teams as the finals approach, while Townsville’s composure in the clutch underlines their championship credentials.