Gutsy UC Capitals fall to Bendigo Spirit
The UC Capitals have gone down fighting to a veteran Bendigo Spirit side, 77-85, in front of a sell-out crowd at Tuggeranong Stadium.
1,222 fans packed the stands to watch the Caps in their second last home game of the season, the team was without Jade Melbourne who sat out after returning home from Brazil with the Australian Opals.
Starting five for Caps was Alex Sharp, Gemma Potter, Alex Fowler, Jayda Clark and Monica Okoye. While taking the court for Bendigo was Kelsey Griffin, Alex Wilson, Alicia Froling, Mehryn Kraker and Kelly Wilson playing in her 450th WNBL game.
Q1
Clark pulled in the first possession off the jump ball for the home side who scored the first points through Okoye, knocking down a three from the top of the arc. Bendigo took it down their end and found captain Griffin down low who worked it in for two points of her own. The away side continued to play with speed and urgency for the duration of the first quarter, sharing the scoring between all of their starters. For the Caps, Potter brought the Canberra crowd to life, hitting back-to-back jump shots from the same corner of the court. It became a battle down low between Froling and Fowler as both dominated the boards for their team. The quarter ended with Casey Samuels knocking down a free throw after subbing in for the Spirit.
Caps 20 – Spirit 27
Q2
The second quarter started with Bendigo in possession and Samuels, now with a taste for scoring, knocked down a three-pointer of her own. The Capitals begun their scoring through Sharp who managed to put away a strong layup through traffic. The game took a pause when Griffin started bleeding after taking a knock to the head and came off to get cleaned up. Potter continued to lead for the Caps and kept their scoring ticking over, and for the Spirit it was Froling who found herself under the basket on multiple occasions. Bendigo pushed their lead in the final minutes of the quarter, but it was Sharp who had the final say, pulling up a successful jump shot.
Top scorers for the half were Potter with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and Sharp with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Caps 38 – Spirit 49
Q3
Coming out of the main break, the Spirit opened the scoring through Griffin who knocked down an open three-pointer. The Caps took a while to get their eye back in but it was Fowler who did it for them after finding herself under the basket. Clark came in clutch for her side right when they needed it, scoring a duo of jump shots. Nicole Munger then subbed on for the Caps and contributed a huge three-pointer to bring the margin back to single digits. Clark showed off her shooting skills again putting up a three-pointer with confidence, up the other end Bendigo kept looking to Griffin in the key.
Caps 59 – Spirit 66
Q4
It was a physical start to the final term with both teams coming out with their all, it was the Caps that struck first through a layup from Potter. The Spirit struck back through Griffin who knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, followed up by Wehrung who hit a three of her own to push the lead back out. Abby Solway and Jade Kirisome both returned to the court to help the Caps out, while Fowler found herself on the end of fast break which turned into a trip to the foul line. Munger found herself in the same spot not long after and was able to add two more points to the Caps total. Sharp had the final say for the game with a successful layup to bring the final margin to 8 points.
Caps 77 – Spirit 85
Top scorers for the Caps were Potter with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and Fowler with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists. For Bendigo it was Griffin with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 1 assist, and Froling with 23 points and 5 rebounds.