Perennial contenders Townsville Fire have issued an early statement by tipping off the 45th WNBL season with a clinical, party-spoiling 84-58 win over competition debutants Geelong United.
The Fire took control in the first half at Geelong Arena on Wednesday night before a dominant 23-9 third quarter doused any hopes of a fairytale fightback from the league newcomers.
Alicia Froling, who returned to Fire colours in the offseason, starred with a game-high of 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
She was well supported by imports Zia Cooks (15 points) and Lauren Cox (12 points, four blocks).
“It’s so great being home,” Townsville-born Froling said. “We’ve got a lot better to get, too, which is really exciting.
“We can get heaps better.”
Twin sister and United captain Keely Froling (15 points, seven boards) was the only player to notch double figures for the hosts, who were shown the standard they need to aspire to.
Geelong was announced in May as the WNBL’s newest team, after purchasing the Melbourne Boomers’ licence.
Keely Froling entered the record books with Geelong’s first-ever score, a low-post lay-in off import Haley Jones’s assist.
Alicia replied quickly for Townsville, the Froling siblings combining for 17 first-quarter points.
The Fire unleashed a 16-3 burst either side of quarter time to turn their slender 18-17 lead into a commanding 34-20 scoreline.
Nya Lok, making her competition debut, was subbed in at the start of the second term and drained a corner triple with her opening touch.
She added a layup and another trey to finish with eight points for the stanza as the visitors’ advantage blew out to 48-27.
Geelong’s defence was porous, while their shooting was awry with Keely Froling the exception.
A 7-0 run to finish the half gave United some belated momentum at the long break but Townsville promptly regained the ascendancy in the third.
United missed 16 of their 19 third-quarter shots as the Fire’s buffer stretched to an insurmountable 71-43 at the last break, before Geelong saved some face by narrowly winning the fourth period.
“Obviously disappointing in the scoreline but we take away a lot of learnings,” Keely Froling said. “We know it’s going to take us a bit of time to get rolling.”
