UPDATE: The Bendigo Spirit clinched a nail-biting 62-55 victory against the Geelong Venom on October 31, 2023, marking their first win of the WNBL season. With a shaky final quarter, the Spirit managed to overcome a scoring drought, showcasing their resilience as they battled to reclaim the lead at Red Energy Arena.
As the game neared its conclusion, the Spirit, who had previously led by 10 points at halftime, found themselves trailing after Geelong surged ahead with an 8-0 run. With just over four minutes remaining, the Venom took a 50-49 lead, putting pressure on the defending champions.
In a crucial moment, Spirit co-captain Kelsey Griffin broke the scoring silence for Bendigo, sinking a basket to reclaim the lead. The ensuing plays saw the Spirit hold off the Venom, despite Geelong’s attempts to tie the game with a potential three-pointer from Lilly Rotunno, which missed.
A pivotal rebound by Abbey Wehrung set up teammate Megan McConnell, who was fouled and scored a free throw. A subsequent foul on co-captain Marianna Tolo allowed her to extend the Spirit’s lead to five points. In the final moments, a turnover by Geelong sealed their fate, allowing Tolo to secure the win with a lay-up.
This victory levels the Spirit’s record to 1-1 after a prior loss to Townsville. The team’s defense was commendable, holding Geelong to just 55 points—a stark contrast to the Venom’s previous game where they scored 110 points against Adelaide.
“We’re happy with the win,” said Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama. “We need to improve on managing pressure, and we did well defensively by limiting a high-scoring team to just 55 points.”
High-profile signing Isobel Borlase shone with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists, dominating the first half with 14 points. Tolo also made a significant contribution with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Wehrung added 11 points.
Despite forcing the Spirit into 22 turnovers, Geelong could not capitalize effectively. Tolo acknowledged their pressure, stating, “Credit to Geelong; they made us rush our passes, and that’s something we will learn from.”
Looking ahead, the Spirit will face the Sydney Flames at Red Energy Arena this Sunday at 12:30 PM, where they aim to build on their momentum from this hard-fought victory.
Stay tuned for more updates as the WNBL season unfolds, and follow the Spirit’s journey as they strive for championship glory.
