Red hot Sowah ignites Fire to victory in milestone game

WNBA champion Miela Sowah has made an instant impact on her return to the WNBL, starring in Townsville's 85-78 victory over the UC Capitals in Canberra.

Playing her 100th WNBL match, Sowah dropped 27 points, including four three-pointers, as the Fire claimed their fifth win of the season at AIS Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The match was Sowah's first for the WNBL champions since her return from America and celebrations with the Golden State Valkyries following their WNBA title success.

Coming off the bench, Sowah led all scorers, also recording four assists and four rebounds in her impressive display.

The visitors had five double-figure scorers, including Alicia Froling who posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

"She was great," Fire coach Shannon Seebohm said of Sowah.

"Awesome to have her back.

"It takes us a little while until everyone figures out how they fit and everything, so we'll work that out, but yeah, it was awesome."

The Capitals made a bright start, charging to an 8-0 lead before the visitors came out firing after a timeout and piling on 11 unanswered points to take the lead.

Townsville extended that margin to 13 at halftime following a 29-17 second quarter, during which Sowah hit three triples.

The game had to stop in the third term due a scoreboard issue and the Capitals made the most of the break, with Amy Atwell drawing a foul while shooting a three and landing all of her field goals to level scores at 63.

The Caps then went ahead when Charlotte Whittaker finished off after an Atwell steal, before Sowah nailed the last bucket of the term to ensure Townsville had a one-point lead at the final change.

The Fire were never headed from that point, winning the final quarter by six to move above the Capitals to second on the ladder.

Atwell led the way for the hosts with 18 points, while Nyadiew Puoch was impressive with 14 points and nine rebounds.

"Really liked our fight in getting it back, and we really showed what we could do at both ends of the floor in the third quarter," Capitals coach Paul Goriss said.

"Obviously disappointed with the loss but gives us definitely some things that we're a work in progress on."