WNBL superstar Lauren Nicholson stepped up spectacularly in the crunch to help Sydney climb off the canvas to a 97-94 overtime win against Geelong Venom.<\/p>\n
The Flames captain had been out of sorts, scoreless until virtually the three-quarter-time bell at Quaycentre on Wednesday night, before catching fire late, with nine points in the fourth term and 10 in the extension to finish with 21.<\/p>\n
Keely Froling scored 24 and import Unique Thompson added 17, including a contested three in the dying seconds of the fourth period to force extra time.<\/p>\n
Mackenzie Holmes posted 28 points and 10 rebounds for Geelong, while Elissa Brett had 21, including 6-of-7 three-pointers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Venom led at every change and by 10 midway through the fourth before Sydney stormed home, pinching the lead via a 13-2 tear, highlighted by back-to-back Nicholson treys.<\/p>\n
Lilly Rotunno put the Venom back in front, then Holmes scored with 12 seconds left for a three-point cushion, which Thompson erased at the death.<\/p>\n
The Flames led for just 29 seconds in regulation, before dominating the extension.<\/p>\n
“We tried really hard at times to give them the win,” relieved Sydney coach Guy Molloy said.<\/p>\n
“I thought the game was potentially lost maybe four or five times.<\/p>\n
“The girls really dug deep and came back.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Geelong held sway 19-15 at quarter-time and 43-39 at the half, at which time Nicholson was scoreless, blanketed by the tag-team tandem of Brett and Jaz Shelley.<\/p>\n
Shelley’s long heave pushed the Venom ahead 54-44 during the third, before the Flames chiselled away at the deficit, reducing the gap to 62-61 with a quarter to play on Nicholson’s first bucket of the evening.<\/p>\n
Geelong got little right down the stretch, allowing the Flames to snap a three-game losing streak.<\/p>\n
“We’ve lost five games by seven points or less now,” gutted Venom coach Chris Lucas said after his side’s second overtime defeat in five days.<\/p>\n
“I’m pretty disappointed because we fought all game and had control.<\/p>\n
“The last 15 minutes of play were so undisciplined, particularly from our senior players, which they’re aware of.”<\/p>\n
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