WNBL superstar Lauren Nicholson stepped up spectacularly in the crunch to help Sydney climb off the canvas and to a 97-94 overtime win against Geelong Venom.
The Flames captain had been totally 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.
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.
Mackenzie Holmes posted 28 points and 10 rebounds for Geelong, while Elissa Brett had 21, including 6-of-7 three-pointers.
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.
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.
The Flames led for just 29 seconds in regulation, before dominating the extension.
"We tried really hard at times to give them the win," relieved Sydney coach Guy Molloy said.
"I thought the game was potentially lost maybe four or five times.
"The girls really dug deep and came back."
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.
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.
Geelong got little right down the stretch, allowing the Flames to snap a three-game losing streak.
"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.
"I'm pretty disappointed because we fought all game and had control.
"The last 15 minutes of play were so undisciplined, particularly from our senior players, which they're aware of."
