Isabelle Bourne’s 12-point third term breaks the game open against Geelong United
Geelong United’s coach got a technical foul and its emerging star was shutdown after half time in a disappointing finish to its inaugural WNBL season.
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Geelong United has ended its inaugural WNBL season with a thud, losing a sixth straight match following a major fade out after half time against a team it had previously owned in 2024-25.
United had the wood on the Adelaide Lightning this year coming into the Round 16 clash at the Adelaide 36ers Arena, winning both of their games before the Christmas.
And both sides were chasing sixth place on the ladder following six-win campaigns.
However, it was perhaps reflective of United’s tumultuous, injury-impacted season – with more downs than ups after just two wins in 2025 – it followed its second-highest opening term of the year to offer just 24 points after the main break, going down 87-70 in the City of Churches.
The home team went on an absolute tear in the third to shift the momentum of the game and flip a four-point deficit into a nine-point lead heading into the final term.
The likes of Steph Talbot, Brianna Turner, Isabelle Bourne and Isobel Borlase combined for 64 collective points.
However, Bourne led that dynamic quartet with 12 points, including back-to-back triples, in the third term to break the match wide open.
Adelaide’s defence tightened after a freewheeling opening half, making it hard work for United to land a bucket — stand-in captain Jaz Shelley did not add to her 12 points to half time as Geelong was outscored 45-24.
Elissa Brett though was dependable, especially with her triples, landing a match-high four from eight attempts in a team-best of 18 points.
United coach Chris Lucas also received a technical foul after reportedly voicing his displeasure with an umpire after Brett received her fourth personal foul.
Earlier, the game got off to a bad note for the visitors, with Haley Jones hobbling off the court midway through the first term.
Fortunately, after having her left knee strapped, Jones returned to the floor to close out the half.
United had already lost captain Keely Froling and Israeli recruit Dani Raber to injury earlier in the season.
It was a freewheeling affair at times, with both sides not quite at their defensive best, as United produced their highest scoring opening term (27 points) since dropping 30 against the Southside Flyers in Round 2.
It was familiar surroundings for a good chunk of the United team, with Brett, Hannah Hank, and Sarah Elsworthy all South Australians.
Shelley led the scoring for United with 12 points – shooting at 66 per cent from outside the arc – to half time while Brett was her usual lethal self outside the perimeter, landing two threeballs from five attempts.
However, Geelong was outclassed after half time as Adelaide’s star-studded roster began to click; Talbot and Turner combining in superb style at the finish for a late bucket.
It was a disappointing finish to the season for United, who failed to bank a win after one of its best, a 20-point defeat of Sydney Flames at the arena on January 17.
It’s now a question of whether the likes of Froling, Jones, Raber, Alex Sharp and Mon Conti will be back for season two.
Originally published as Isabelle Bourne’s 12-point third term breaks the game open against Geelong United
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