Capitals skipper Jess Bibby has defended her side's effort, insisting execution was the cause of Canberra's 97-68 thumping on the road at the hands of Sydney last night.
Not since the Capitals' lean early years have the seven-time champions been thrashed by such a margin.
Canberra is out of finals contention and has little to play for, but Bibby denied suggestions her side lacked motivation.
The loss meant Capitals guard Michelle Cosier will also remember her 200th WNBL match, against her old side, for all the wrong reasons.
Canberra conceded 23 turnovers to Sydney's 11 in a third straight defeat, which has been its Achilles heel for much of the season.
''You can't fault the effort, it was just a few things that were haunting us earlier in the season have come back to bite us on the bum,'' Bibby said. ''It was a game against our number one rival and it was Muss' [Cosier's] 200th, there's always things to play for.
''It would be very unsportsmanlike of us to just roll over because we can't make the play-offs, it's disrespecting the history of the Capitals.
''We have an obligation to the singlet and to represent the city as best we can every time we take the floor.''
Canberra was on the end of a masterclass from Sydney star Belinda Snell last night, the Opals guard racking up 23 points and 11 assists.
Twenty-one of her points came in the first half before she turned provider, mainly to Ellyce Ironmonger, who finished with 18 points.
The Flames won every quarter and the win allows them to reclaim their place in the top five.
''Graffy [coach Carrie Graf] made the comment afterward it wouldn't have mattered who they played tonight the way they shot the ball,'' Bibby said.
''We let some of their stud players get off early, and when they get their eye in it's really difficult to stop.''
Bibby shot the ball the best she has all year, leading Canberra's scoring with 19 on the back of 8-12 shooting.
Small forward Carly Wilson (13 points) kept Canberra in the contest early but faded in the second half.
Centre Marianna Tolo is still nursing a foot complaint, but battled inside for 12 points and seven rebounds.
Bibby demanded her side show more grit in its remaining three games.
''They put a lot of pressure on us, and it was disappointing we couldn't counter that pressure,'' she said.
''We allowed them to push us out of our stuff a bit too easily, and the scoreboard showed that.''
A positive for the Capitals was the return from ankle injury of forward Natalie Porter, who played solidly off the bench in her first match in five weeks.
WNBL Round 15: SYDNEY FLAMES 97 (Belinda Snell 23, Ellyce Ironmonger 18) bt CANBERRA CAPITALS 68 (Jess Bibby 19, Carly Wilson 13) at Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre last night.
This reporter is on Twitter: @tuxy81
.gif)
