Maddison Rocci stars as Canberra Capitals beat Townsville Fire in WNBL clash

But the figures she notched up on a career night would have been enough to make Opals coach Sandy Brondello take notice on the road to Tokyo's Olympic Games next year.

Rocci scored a career-high 24 points to lift the Capitals to a 78-67 win over the Townsville Fire at Mackay Stadium on Sunday night.

The Capitals now have less than 24 hours to rebound with the unforgiving nature of the WNBL season meaning they will be back in action against the Bendigo Spirit on Monday night.

Rocci's game high 24 points came with seven assists and three steals while 18-year-old sensation Jade Melbourne showed glimpses of her remarkable potential with 12 points and six rebounds.

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Mikaela Ruef overcame an ankle injury to get through a mountain of work and rack up a double-double from the bench with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

"It's great to play, I do what I do just to help this team get the win," Rocci said on Kayo's post-game coverage.

"I never really look at how many points I score, or how many rebounds and assists I get. I do what I do just to play for the team. To do everything I've done for today was great, to get the win for the team.

"It was great to get the win, obviously super disappointed to start the season on a loss [last Wednesday].

"To come out and play as hard as we did was so great. Our defensive pressure in the second half was definitely what won us that game.

"To play back-to-back games is obviously super hard but we're just going to go home, do some ice baths tonight, get some food and get some sleep, and we'll be ready to back up tomorrow."

The Capitals' offence was humming midway through the first quarter before Townsville's defence began to ramp up the pressure on the reigning champions.

The two sides traded blow for blow with the Fire taking a three-point advantage into the half-time break with Rocci leading the way for Canberra, days after posting 21 points in their season opener.

Ruef's inclusion became even more vital for the Capitals when Marianna Tolo found herself in foul trouble, with four to her name when she was substituted out with six minutes to play in the third.

Townsville coach Shannon Seebohm had his own foul problems to worry about with Nadeen Payne and Zitina Aokuso entering the final quarter with four each.

Payne would be fouled out of the game 40 seconds into the term, leaving Townsville a player short in their bid to shut down rampant duo Rocci and Ruef.

"It was great to have [Ruef] on the court tonight. Obviously we were a bit scared with the ankle injury she had in that first game," Rocci said.

"She comes out and does everything for the team. getting on those O-boards and D-boards is definitely what we needed tonight."

The Capitals face an incredibly hectic week ahead with a game against the high-flying Melbourne Boomers on Wednesday, followed by five games in an eight-day stretch from Saturday onwards.

Capitals coach Paul Goriss is hoping to begin drip feeding the likes of Kelsey Griffin, Britt Smart and Tahlia Tupaea back into the fold over the coming days with the club facing a tumultuous week.

As for exactly when they will suit up?

"It's a secret, but they're coming, don't worry," Rocci said.

AT A GLANCE

WNBL: CANBERRA CAPITALS 78 (Maddison Rocci 24, Marianna Tolo 13, Jade Melbourne 12) bt TOWNSVILLE FIRE 67 (Lauren Nicholson19, Shyla Heal 18, Zitina Aokuso 9) at Mackay Stadium.