Spirit knock off Lynx to solidify top spot

Bendigo Spirit have cemented their spot atop the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) standings with a hard-fought nine-point win over the second-placed Perth Lynx in Bendigo.
The Spirit now have bragging rights over the Lynx, not only remaining above them on the standings, but having won the tongue-in-cheek ‘SEN Cup’, 2-1 (from the three teams both SEN-owned teams have played each other this 2024/25 regular season).
The Spirit went into the game depleted, with Kelly Wilson missing through injury, after taking a heavy fall during the Spirit’s win over the Sydney Flames in Mildura on Sunday. Ashlee Hannan and Opal Bird were also both still unavailable, missing due to illness and injury respectively. The Lynx, meanwhile, were at full strength.
It was the Lynx who hit the scoreboard first, and – not prepared to be intimidated by the raucous Bendigo crowd – maintained that lead, stretching it out to lead by as much as 10 points seven minutes into the first term. Ally Wilson looked at home on what was – until this season – her home court, top-scoring for the quarter with eight points. Veronica Burton – who was perhaps inspired by having her parents in the house, all the way from the US – was huge for the Spirit in the first term, with six points to her name, along with three assists and two rebounds. The Lynx took a seven-point lead into the first break; 30-23.
Arguably outplayed by the Lynx in the first term, the Spirit came out firing in the second – their defence was strong, and it took the Lynx over two minutes to knock down their first points of the quarter. The play was getting increasingly physical, and the Lynx asserted their attacking influence back into the term, which they would go on to narrowly win – 23-22 – taking an eight-point lead into the main break.
Neither team was backing down when they came back from half time, despite the Spirit picking up the momentum to narrowly win the term; 20-17. With a depleted roster of available players, Spirit head coach, Kennedy Kereama kept rotating his players, with the likes of Micah Simpson (5:52) and Georgia Booth (4:52) taking to the court for important minutes to give the starters a break. The Spirit headed into the final break now just five points behind – 65-70.
The final term started in exhilarating fashion, with Spirit star, Sami Whitcomb sinking three consecutive three-pointers within the first two minutes of the quarter. Whitcomb simultaneously fired up her teammates and brought the Red Energy Arena crowd to their feet, setting the tone for the remainder of the term. Where the Lynx had arguably had the edge over the Spirit for the first 30 minutes of the game, the Spirit absolutely dominated the final term, winning it 30-16, to secure a 95-86 match.
Incredibly, Whitcomb was on the court for all 40 minutes of the match, and didn’t give the Lynx players much of a reprieve, finishing with a double-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal) to yet again be named Player of the Game.
At the other end of the court, Ally Wilson was also huge for the Lynx, with 29 points of her own along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.
The Spirit had six (of their eight players to take the court) reach double figures. Kelsey Griffin – who notched another double-double with 12 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and a block – she was joined by Marianna Tolo (15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Burton (14 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block), Abbey Wehrung (12 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds), and Casey Samuels (10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block).
With both the Spirit and Lynx having already secured their position in the playoffs and both having already played 16 matches, the Spirit now sit two games clear of the Lynx, with 14 wins to their name.
The Spirit will now turn their attention to Geelong United, who – in an interesting turn of events – they will host at Geelong Arena as a part of the TAC’s ‘Country Rounds Round’ initiative. The match will be held on Sunday afternoon, to close out Round 12.
Tip-off will be at 4pm AEDT, with tickets now available for purchase online.