Star Bendigo Spirit Import Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe Heads To France

Bendigo Spirit import Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe will have little time to reflect after her adopted side missed the WNBL finals. The Canadian Olympian has left for France, where she will play on a short-term deal with Ligue 1 club Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes. Playing her firstÊseason in the WNBL, Raincock-Ekunwe led the Spirit in points per game (15.88) and rebounds per game (8.38). Those totals ranked her ninth in the league in scoring and fourth in rebounds. The 25-year-old recorded 20 steals and eight blocked shots, while averaging 1.58 assist perÊgame. Raincock-Ekunwe ended the season with a bang, earning her second WNBL player of the week nomination, while averaging 16 points and 8.5 rebounds in a pair of one-point wins over Melbourne Boomers and Perth Lynx on the weekend. The Canadian nailed the game winner in Sunday's game against Perth at Bendigo Stadium to relegate the Lynx to third sport on the ladder and miss out on home court advantage in the semi-finals against Dandenong Rangers. Raincock-Ekunwe told the Bendigo Advertiser last week she would be open to returning to the WNBL next season. "It's definitely something I would like to do - it's very early to say where I'll be next year," she said. "But I'd definitely consider coming back to Bendigo. "If we had played in 2017 like we did through 2016, we would definitely have made the playoffs." While there is much to play out during the off-season, the Spirit have also expressed interest in having Raincock-Ekunwe back in 2017-18. Article: Bendigo Advertiser Photo: Akuna Photography