The Tasmania Jewels started strongly in their first ever WNBL away game and led by as much as 14 points but couldn’t quite keep it going with the Southside Melbourne Flyers ending up prevailing 91-77.
The Jewels were fresh off the high of their emotional and memorable WNBL debut at a sold out MyState Bank Arena last Thursday night where they beat the Geelong Venom 103-90.
Their second game was then a week later at Melbourne's State Basketball Centre against a Flyers team looking for their first win of the season under the coaching of Australian basketball legend Sam Mackinnon.
The Jewels made a flying start with 28 points in the first quarter on 8/16 shooting from the field, 3/6 from deep and 9/10 at the foul line.
That turned into a 14-point lead early in the second quarter but the Flyers managed to work back into the game from there and then take over in the second half for the eventual 14-point win.
Over the last three quarters, Tasmania managed just the 49 points on 19/54 shooting overall, 3/26 from the outside and 8/12 at the foul line.
By the end of the game, captain Darcee Garbin once again top scored for the Jewels with 19points, six rebounds and two assists.
Steph Reid also had 15 points and four assists, Gianna Kneepkens 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Brooke Basham 10 points and two assists despite a disjointed start with two early fouls.
Mia Jacobs added seven points and six rebounds, Ella Tofaeono seven points and 10 boards, Katie Deeble five points and three assists, Chloe Broomhall two points, and Mikaela Ruef two in just under five minutes when her debut with the Jewels was ended after taking a heavy knock.
The Jewels were looking to keep their momentum going from their first up home win last Thursday for their first ever away game, and things started well in the opening term.
By quarter-time, the Jewels were on top 28-17 on the back of going 3/6 from the outside to 0/4 from the Flyers, and then 9/10 from the free-throw line opposed to 1/1.
Steph Reid was already up to seven points, Darcee Garbin six and Gianna Kneepkens six after those opening six minutes.
Tasmania did stay on top most of the second quarter too but Southside finished the first half strongly and even briefly hit the lead before Garbin scored the last points of the half to keep the Jewels leading 46-45 heading into the locker room.
That gave her 10 points for the half along with Reid but as a team the Jewels were just shooting 38 per cent overall with 3/17 from downtown to the 52 per cent from the Flyers.
Southside were able to assume control of the game in the third quarter with 29 points to 14 on the back of shooting a scorching 10/13 from the field, 3/4 from the outside and 6/6 at the free-throw line.
The Jewels managed those 14 points on 6/16 shooting and 2/7 from deep which allowed the Flyers to open up a 74-60 advantage by three quarter-time.
Tasmania fought the game out valiantly but could never quite make up the deficit with Southside handing them the first WNBL with the 14-point victory.
The Jewels now have another first next Saturday afternoon when they head to Launceston to host the Sydney Flames at the Silverdome.
WNBL SEASON 2026/27 | ROUND 2
TASMANIA JEWELS 77 lost to Southside Melbourne Flyers 91
State Basketball Centre (Melbourne), Thursday October 22
Darcee Garbin | 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Steph Reid | 15 points, 4 assists
Gianna Kneepkens | 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Brooke Basham | 10 points, 2 assists
Ella Tofaeono | 7 points, 10 rebounds
Mia Jacobs | 7 points, 6 rebounds
Katie Deeble | 5 points, 3 assists
Mikaela Ruef | 2 points, 1 rebound
Chloe Broomhall | 2 points, 1 rebound
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