Sowah sparks Fire as Lightning struggle offensively

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The Townsville Fire got back to their best in a commanding 83–69 WNBL26 road win over the Adelaide Lightning at the SA State Basketball Centre on Sunday, January 4, 2026

Townsville set the tone early, taking control in the opening quarter and never relinquishing the lead. A 24–17 first period advantage laid the foundation, before the Fire tightened defensively in the second quarter, holding Adelaide to just 10 points to extend the margin to 44–27 at halftime. The Lightning struggled to generate consistent scoring against Townsville’s physical interior defence and disciplined perimeter rotations.

Townsville have lost Lauren Cox to a knee injury for the season.

The Fire’s depth and balance were decisive. Seven players scored at least seven points, led by Miela Sowah’s 18 points, including four three-pointers, while captain Alicia Froling delivered an efficient all-around performance with 12 points, six rebounds and a game-high efficiency rating. Alexandra Fowler added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Lucy Olsen orchestrated the offence with seven assists as Townsville controlled tempo for long stretches.

Adelaide showed late fight, winning the final quarter 27–16 behind captain Steph Talbot, who finished with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals in a typically hard-working display. Dallas Loughridge added 18 points and six assists, while Sania Feagin battled inside for 11 points and nine rebounds. However, the Lightning were unable to overcome the damage done earlier, trailing by as many as 29 points in the second half.

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 83 def. Adelaide Lightning 69
• When: Saturday, 4th January 2026
• Where: SA State Basketball Centre, Adelaide
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire) starred with 18 points, two rebounds and one steal in 24 minutes.
• Steph Talbot (Adelaide Lightning) scored 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 37 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established early control and never relinquished their grip on the contest, leading for 38 minutes and 50 seconds of the 40-minute encounter. Townsville opened with a strong first quarter, taking a 24-17 advantage before extending their dominance in the second period with a 20-10 scoring burst to lead 44-27 at half-time.

Adelaide's struggles continued in the third quarter as the Fire outscored them 23-15 to build an insurmountable 67-42 advantage heading into the final period. Despite a spirited fourth-quarter rally from the Lightning, who outscored Townsville 27-16 in the closing 10 minutes, the deficit proved too substantial to overcome.

Miela Sowah was outstanding for the Fire, shooting an efficient 7-from-14 from the field, including a stellar 4-from-8 from beyond the arc. Her ability to score from deep was crucial in stretching Adelaide's defence and creating additional spacing for her teammates. Alicia Froling provided solid support with 12 points on perfect 3-from-3 shooting inside the arc, while Alexandra Fowler contributed 14 points and eight boards in a well-rounded performance.

The Fire's superior shooting accuracy proved decisive, as they connected on 57.69% of their field goal attempts compared to Adelaide's 51.28%. Townsville's three-point shooting was particularly impressive, draining 11 triples at a 44% clip, while the Lightning managed just six three-pointers from 17 attempts for a disappointing 35.29% conversion rate.

Steph Talbot led Adelaide's scoring with 19 points on efficient 6-from-9 shooting, including a perfect 6-from-6 from the charity stripe. Dallas Loughridge added 18 points and six assists in 40 minutes of action, while Sania Feagin chipped in with 11 points and nine defensive rebounds. However, their individual efforts couldn't prevent the Lightning from suffering a comprehensive defeat on home court.