The Tasmania Jewels took charge after quarter-time in their first WNBL game in Launceston to remain undefeated in their home state and handing the Sydney Flames a first defeat of the season with the 93-85 win.
The Jewels opened life in the WNBL beating the Geelong Venom at a sold out MyState Bank Arena before losing on the road last Thursday night to the Southside Melbourne Flyers ahead of hosting the undefeated Flames at the Silverdome on Saturday afternoon.
Sydney arrived full of confidence and scored 15 straight points in the first quarter to lead by as much as 13, but the Jewels then worked on top from there.
After quarter-time, the Jewels outscored the Flames 76 points to 59 to secure the eventual eight-point win and to win on their first try in Launceston and stay undefeated so far in Tasmania.
While the Flames did pull down 17 offensive rebounds to seven and scored 16 second chance points as a result, the Jewels did force them into 14 turnovers and scored 14 points from those themselves.
It was a strong defensive job too from the Jewels to hold the Flames to shooting 21/51 at 41 per cent after quarter-time while limiting star guards Jaz Shelley (four points, 1/8 shooting) and Lauren Nicholson (10, 3/11) to uncharacteristically quiet outings.
Steph Reid ended up with 17 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals on 3/4 three-point shooting for the Jewels with captain Darcee Garbin scoring all her 13 points after half-time to go with seven rebounds and three steals.
Gianna Kneepkens added 15 points with Brooke Basham contributing 13 points and three assists, Ella Tofaeono 12 points and four rebounds, Katie Deeble nine points and three assists, Mia Jacobs nine points and four boards, and Chloe Broomhall five points on 2/3 shooting.
The Flames arrived in Launceston having won their opening four games of the season and then started on fire with a 15-0 run and getting out to a 13-point lead in the first quarter with Issie Bourne leading the way with 11 points.
Sydney were still leading 26-17 by quarter-time thanks to shooting 10/19 to the 6/18 from the field for the Jewels along with collecting six offensive rebounds to two.
It was a different looking Tasmania outfit in the second frame and the Jewels would end up piling on 31 points which included going on a 15-0 scoring run along the way.
The Jewels shot 11/15 from the field with 4/6 from the outside in the quarter while also holding the Flames to just 16 points on 6/15 shooting.
Gianna Kneepkens was already up to 12 points with 2/3 three-point shooting while the Jewels were doing a strong defensive job including limiting Flames guards Lauren Nicholson and Jaz Shelley to a combined seven points on 2/11 shooting.
The Jewels added another 26 points to 24 in the third quarter with 10/20 shooting and that saw them maintain the 74-66 advantage while forcing Sydney into 11 turnovers and limiting Nicholson and Shelley still to nine points on 3/14 shooting.
Shelley then picked up a fifth foul with 6:30 remaining in the game and the Jewels continued to have the answers leading by as much as 14 on the way to the eventual eight-point victory to remain undefeated in Tasmania.
The Jewels are now on the road next Saturday against the Adelaide Lightning before a rematch with the Southside Melbourne Flyers in Launceston on Thursday November 12.
WNBL SEASON 2026/27 | ROUND 3
TASMANIA JEWELS 93 defeated Sydney Flames 85
The Silverdome (Launceston), Saturday October 31
Steph Reid | 17 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Gianna Kneepkens | 15 points, 4/8 FG, 2/4 3PT
Brooke Basham | 13 points, 3 assists
Darcee Garbin | 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals
Ella Tofaeono | 12 points, 4 rebounds
Katie Deeble | 9 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Mia Jacobs | 9 points, 4 rebounds
Chloe Broomhall | 5 points, 2/3 FG
Ava McDonald | 1 rebound
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