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An undermanned and undersized Canberra Capitals were overrun 80-72 by Dandenong Rangers on Saturday, but not before they showed how good they could potentially be once they're healthy.
Despite a horror pre-season disrupted by injury and recruits withdrawing late, the Capitals led by 19 points early in the second term. But a messy third quarter, where they were outscored 15-0 over the last four-and-a-half minutes, ensured Dandenong would recover from their slow start at AIS Arena.
Canberra dominated early despite Lauren Jackson and Hanna Zavecz watching from the sideline, last year's WNBL most valuable player Abby Bishop (hamstring) on limited minutes and point guard recruit Renee Montgomery (WNBA commitments) yet to arrive.
The Capitals' speed and ball movement troubled the big Dandenong outfit early, and through unselfish basketball they raced to a 19-point lead early in the second quarter.
Veteran Carly Wilson nailed her first three three-point attempts and despite the Rangers' size advantage, out-rebounded them in the first half to take a 45-34 lead.
Signed on a one-month contract, undersized forward Rosie Fadljevic did a sterling job with six rebounds and six points in the first half, while fellow youngster Ellie Junod contributed three assists before the main break.
But Dandenong's sheer size, led by Jacinta Kennedy (17 points) and Annalise Pickrel (16), began to ground Canberra down, and once they adjusted to the Capitals' fast style of play they wrested back momentum.
Capitals veteran Jess Bibby insisted their fast style didn't result in them running out of steam after half-time.
She said they simply failed to make the right adjustments once the Rangers shut it down.
"You saw in the first half when we have some run, spread the floor and have an attacking mindset what we can do, but they were able to reverse the tables on us in the second half," Bibby said.
"We didn't play that way in the second half. We looked for a more interior focus and we want to do that, but they adjusted really quickly to that. It's difficult for us, what's the game plan with limited numbers?
"They made adjustments defensively that forced us out of what we were running, and we didn't adjust accordingly. Any time there's a 15-0 run it's unlikely you're going to be able to win the game. They're too good a team for us to allow that to happen and still get it done."
Capitals youngster Steph Talbot also played the match with a minor injury, but showed she's ready to improve further on her breakout season last year with 22 points.
DANDENONG RANGERS 80 (Jacinta Kennedy 17, Tenaya Phillips 17, Annalise Pickrel 16, Tenaya Phillips 15) bt CANBERRA CAPITALS 72 (Steph Talbot 22, Rosie Fadljevic 10, Abby Bishop 10) at AIS Arena on Saturday night.
