Baptism by Fire: Renae's Flames doused in Townsville

• Fire dismantle Flames 93–60 after a 57–28 first-half explosion in Townsville.
• Garlepp debuts as Sydney coach after Guy Molloy steps down midweek.
• Sowah erupts for 26 points to lead league-leading Townsville to 9–1.

Australian Gems 2025 FIBA Under-19 World Cup silver medal head coach Renae Garlepp ran into a Townsville Fire buzzsaw in her first game at the helm of the Sydney Flames in WNBL26 on Saturday, December 6, 2025 in Townsville.

The now 9-1 league-leading Fire dismantled the 3-8 Flames 93-60 after overpowering Sydney 57-28 in the first half.

"Townsville are an incredible team," Garlepp declared.

"They have a lot of depth and are well drilled. They came out firing, and for us to lose two key players and big scorers early was a big blow.

"I'm proud of the group — they kept fighting all game. To lose the second half by four, I'm incredibly proud of everyone and how hard they fought."

Garlepp took charge of the Flames late last week after long-time head coach Guy Molloy stepped down to take up a front office.

“It’s been a challenging season, and after a great deal of reflection, I’ve decided to step down from my position with the team," Molloy said.

Hoops Capital co-owner Luc Longley said “Guy has made an incredible contribution to our club and culture over the last three years. He is a respected coach who has made a significant impact on basketball in Australia, celebrating a milestone 350 WNBL games this year.”

Garlepp revealed: "It's definitely been a big week.

"I've taken it day by day, focusing on the players and what they need, and building from there."

"To regroup and go back to what the group is about and what they want to do moving forward. We focused on training each day, staying focused, and sticking together. Nothing too out of the ordinary."

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 93 def. Sydney Flames 60
• When: Friday, 6th December 2025
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Attendance: 2,657
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire) detonated with 26 points, one rebound, three assists and one steal in 26 minutes.
• Carla Pitman (Sydney Flames) scored 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and four steals in 28 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established complete dominance from the opening tip, building a commanding 31-15 first-quarter advantage that set the tone for a comprehensive victory. They extended their lead to 57-28 at halftime before outscoring the Flames 23-17 in the third period to take an insurmountable 80-45 advantage into the final quarter. The Fire maintained their intensity throughout the fourth period, adding 13 more points while limiting Sydney to just 15 to complete the 33-point rout.

Miela Sowah was absolutely outstanding for Townsville, shooting an efficient 6-from-10 from the field while connecting on five triples from eight attempts from downtown. Her 90% accuracy from the charity stripe, converting nine of 10 free throws, demonstrated her precision throughout the contest. Sowah's explosive performance provided the offensive foundation for the Fire's dominant display.

The Fire's balanced attack featured four players reaching double digits in an exceptional full team effort. Abbey Ellis contributed 12 points on superb shooting, while Alicia Froling added 10 points and nine boards in a masterful two-way performance. Alexandra Fowler chipped in nine points with perfect three-point shooting, and Lauren Cox provided eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench. This depth proved crucial in maintaining pressure throughout the contest.

Townsville's superior shooting efficiency was the defining factor in this comprehensive victory. The Fire shot a solid 54% from the field (21-from-39) while connecting on 11 triples at 37% accuracy. In stark contrast, Sydney struggled offensively with a poor 29% field goal percentage (12-from-42) and managed just nine three-pointers from 23 attempts. The Fire also dominated the boards 42-44 and forced 23 turnovers while committing just 16 themselves, controlling possession throughout the game.

Defensively, Townsville's rim protection was exceptional with seven blocks compared to Sydney's two, limiting the Flames' scoring opportunities in the paint. The Fire's ability to force turnovers and convert them into easy scoring chances created a significant advantage that Sydney never recovered from. This defensive intensity, combined with their offensive efficiency, resulted in one of the most dominant victories of the WNBL season.