Trailing by 10 points at the start of the final quarter, the Flames charged back into the match and levelled the score with just six seconds left.

From the next play Hurst drove to the basket and launched the winning shot in the first game of Canberra's double-header weekend.

The thrilling finishing capped off the Capitals' best performance of the season as they stormed into the WNBL top five for the first time.

''[Canberra coach Carrie Graf] just said get the ball and make something happen,'' Hurst said.

''We couldn't lose so I needed to get a shot up there and lucky for me it banked it.

''I wasn't sure what was happening with it. To get them here is massive for us and puts us back in the direction we want to be going.''

The Capitals now meet the Adelaide Lighting at Tuggeranong tomorrow and can cement their standing as a title contender with back-to-back wins.

The gritty and grinding win was headlined by a sublime effort from Marianna Tolo.

The 20-year-old showed her star potential with a magnificent performance and finished with 23points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and just one foul.

Making her stats more impressive was that she did it against Australian Opals Suzy Batkovic-Brown and Natalie Porter.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times