Spirit face first loss of the season against Lynx
Bendigo Spirit’s unblemished run in the 2024/25 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season has come to an end, going down to the second-ranked Perth Lynx by just three points on their home turf at Red Energy Arena; 68-71.
There was some extra pride on the line for both SEN-owned franchises, with the ledger between the Spirit and the Lynx now 1-1 so far in season 2024/25, with one match up between the two teams remaining in the regular season.
For the first time this season, the Lynx had their full roster available, and they took full advantage of it, pulling away to a six-point lead at the first change; 22-16. Steph Gorman once again got the job on the current League MVP favourite, Sami Whitcomb (14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and an assist), and again frustrated her early, going on to keep her to scoring below 20 points for just the third time this season (with two of these instances coming against Gorman and the Lynx).
The Spirit responded in the second term, clawing their way back to level the score halfway through the term, before pulling ahead by four at the main break. Despite the closeness of the match, the second term would be the only one the Spirit would go on to win, by a handsome margin of 22-12. Marianna Tolo (16 points, 4 blocks, 3 rebounds and an assist) – the Spirit’s top-scorer for the evening – was a handful for the Lynx, aptly aided by Veronica Burton, who with a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal) is increasingly becoming a crucial role-player for Bendigo.
The Lynx won the third term narrowly – 17-14 – to reduce Bendigo’s lead to just one heading into the final change. Perth had actually pulled ahead in the term, before the Spirit reeled them back in, and then a crucial three-pointer from Lynx co-captain, Amy Atwell (11 points, 2 rebounds and a block) nearly levelled the score.
With Casey Samuels and Kelly Wilson both in foul trouble from very early in the term, the Spirit had to be cautious in what was a very physical quarter of basketball. However, Spirit-turned-Lynx player, Ally Wilson, was anything but cautious against her old team, sinking two of four attempted three-point shots, to add to her 15-point second half, earning her a Player of the Game performance, and icing the match for her side.
Wilson top-scored for the match, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Both team’s captains were also huge off the glass, notching double-doubles, with Anneli Maley (Lynx) taking 16 rebounds, along with 12 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, whilst after coming oh-so-close to a double-double last week, Kelsey Griffin (Spirit) amassed 17 rebounds, 10 points, 5 assists and a block.
Despite the loss, the Spirit still sit firmly atop the ladder on 9-1 from their 10 games. The Lynx – who have played one more game so far this season – sit in second with an 8-3 record, clearly ahead of the Townsville Fire (who have played nine games and sit at 5-4) in third.
The Spirit now have a three-day turnaround before they travel to Melbourne to take on 2023/24 Champions, the Southside Flyers, on Sunday afternoon.
The match will be broadcast on 9Now, with tip-off at 3pm AEDT at the State Basketball Centre.