The win kept Townsville just ahead of the Canberra Capitals on the league ladder, holding on to third place on points differential as both teams now hold a 12 wins, 5 losses record.
The AIS put up a great fight to play its best game since the influx of new players in December 2009, and recorded its third highest points tally this season.
Fire Captain Rohanee Cox played her best game since returning from injury to top score with 30 points, draining 4-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc. The Jayco Opal added seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
Four more Townsville players scored in double figures; Rachael Flanagan (18), Amy Lewis (15), Kirby Dalgleish (14), and Jo Hill (11).
Tess Madgen led the spirited AIS side with 17 points and seven rebounds. Forward Gretel Tippett was in support with 11 points and three rebounds.
The AIS started strongly and matched the Fire basket for basket and were just one point down at the first break, 26-25.
Townsville gathered some momentum in the second quarter, the lead extended in the last five minutes of the term as the AIS committed a number of turnovers which Townsville converted at the other end to go into halftime with a 12 point lead, 54-42.
The game was won in the third quarter when Townsville turned up the heat defensively to outscore the AIS 27-7 in the term on the back of some AIS missed shots and turnovers.
Taking a 32-point lead into the final quarter Townsville powered home while the AIS recovered from their quiet third term to add another 16 points to their tally, eventually falling by 44 points.
TOWNSVILLE MCCAFE FIRE 109 (R Cox 30, R Flanagan 18, A Lewis 15) bt
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT 65 (T Madgen 17, G Tippett 11, N Payne 10)
At AIS Training Hall
Photos courtesy of Eric Li for www.canberrapictorial.com.au
