Flames down Venom on Nicholson’s 27-point night

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Flames star Lauren Nicholson's 27 points led Sydney to victory, beating Geelong Venom 85-77 at Geelong Arena in Round 1 of WNBL26.

Nicholson went 5-from-10 from three on her way to a game-high 27 in 32 minutes while teammate Keely Froling delivered a game-deciding 15-point and 12-rebound double double.

Geelong Venom were without recovering star signing Shyla Heal, who injured her knee during the 2025 NBL1 East Women's season. She is expected back within weeks.

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Flames 85 def. Geelong Venom 77
• When: 18th October 2025
• Where: Geelong Arena, Geelong
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames) starred with 27 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 32 minutes.
• Mackenzie Holmes (Geelong Venom) scored 20 points, and had 11 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in 35 minutes.

What Happened

Sydney Flames established control early with a 26-22 first-quarter advantage before blowing the game open in the second period. The Flames outscored Geelong 22-8 in that decisive quarter, taking a commanding 48-30 lead into halftime.

Geelong showed signs of life in the third quarter, matching Sydney's intensity with a 22-16 run that cut into the deficit. The Venom continued their comeback attempt in the final period, outscoring the Flames 25-21, but the early deficit proved too substantial to overcome.

Lauren Nicholson delivered an outstanding performance for Sydney, connecting on five three-pointers while shooting an efficient 50 percent from beyond the arc. Her 27-point effort anchored the Flames' offense throughout the contest. Keely Froling added a stellar all-around game with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, showcasing her versatility.

For Geelong, Mackenzie Holmes fought valiantly with 20 points and 11 rebounds on 60 percent shooting from the field, but struggled with three turnovers and finished with a game-worst minus-27 rating. Alex Sharp contributed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while also adding four assists and two steals in the losing effort.

The rebounding battle proved decisive, with Sydney dominating the glass 47-35. The Flames also displayed superior efficiency from three-point range, shooting 43.5 percent (10-from-23) compared to Geelong's 34.5 percent (10-from-29).

Sydney's balanced attack featured five players scoring seven or more points, while their bench outscored Geelong's reserves 17-13.