Spirit pip Rangers to stay unbeaten

Updated October 28, 2012 06:37:54

Bendigo battled out a tough contest with defending WNBL champion Dandenong before prevailing 82-80 on Saturday night to remain undefeated this season.

The Spirit trailed by just a point at half-time before the Rangers took advantage in the third period, extending their lead to seven points going into the final quarter.

But a strong performance saw the home side outscore the visitors by nine in the fourth to seal victory.

Chantella Perera, Kristi Harrower and Gabrielle Richards all posted 18 points for Bendigo, the latter adding 10 rebounds as well. Kelly Wilson had 14 points and eight boards for the Spirit.

Dandenong star Kathleen MacLeod was the stand-out for her team, leading all scorers with 21 points and adding seven assists and two rebounds, but her efforts were not quite enough.

The Capitals also pulled off a narrow win, escaping a late surge to beat Logan 71-68 in Canberra.

The Thunder stormed home with an 18-12 final period but the Caps had done just enough early on to stay in front.

Nicole Hunt had a team-high 20 points for Canberra, while Brigette Ardossi cleaned the glass to the tune of 11 rebounds to go with her 14-point haul.

The star of the show was Logan star Emma Langford, who went 8-for-18 for 24 points and pulled down 10 boards as she carried her team towards a fast finish.

Elsewhere, the Boomers blew out Townsville Fire 87-59 in a lopsided affair in Bulleen.

Elyse Panaluna made 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead the hosts with 18 points, as Alice Kunek and Rachel Jarry chipped in with 15 apiece.

Townsville's Mia Newley and Kayla Standish were the lone bright sparks, posting 18 and 14 respectively in the yawning loss.

In Perth, Adelaide Link established a 12-point buffer over the West Coast Wave and never looked back, running out 75-65 winners.

For Adelaide, Jo Hill top-scored with 14 points, while Suzy Batkovic and Jennifer Screen had 12 points apiece.

The Wave relied heavily on Natalie Burton, who was 8-for-14 from the field for 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds - Melissa Marsh scored 15 points and had five assists.

Tags: wnbl, sport, basketball, bendigo-3550, vic, australia

First posted October 27, 2012 22:42:24

View the original article here

Spirit make it back-to-back wins

Updated October 14, 2012 09:16:39

Bendigo won its second road game in as many nights with a comfortable 70-58 win over the Rangers in Dandenong on Saturday night.

The Spirit were backing up from their narrow 70-69 win over the Boomers in Bulleen on Friday.

Kristi Harrower scored a game-high 24 points, Gabrielle Richards had 19 and 11 boards and Chelsea Aubry posted 17 in the win.

Rangers star Kathleen MacLeod led her team with 18 points.

Meanwhile, the Lightning cruised to an 86-60 win over Sydney University in Adelaide.

Opals stalwart Suzy Batkovic had a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double while Laura Hodges added 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Lightning exploded out to a 24-13 lead by the first break and led by 17 at half-time before coasting home.

The Flames on the other hand had a tough shooting night, making just 24-of-64 from the floor and making 19 turnovers.

And the Thunder held off a fast-finishing Canberra Capitals outfit in their 68-60 victory in Logan.

The home side built a nine-point lead in the opening quarter and they managed to hold on despite being outgunned 16-10 in the final period to ensure a nervous finish.

Emma Langford (19) and Natalie Taylor (18) led the way for Logan, counteracting the efforts of leading Capitals scorer Jessica Bibby (17) and her team-mates Michelle Cosier and Brigette Ardossi (14 apiece).

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bendigo-3550

First posted October 14, 2012 09:16:39

View the original article here

Spirit pip Boomers

Updated October 12, 2012 22:56:12

Bendigo Spirit edged out Bulleen Boomers 70-69 in their round two clash at The Veneto Club.

The Boomers were just ahead 35-33 at half-time but a tight third quarter saw the Spirit level scores at 54-54 as the two sides headed into the final term.

The Spirit did just enough in the fourth quarter to ice the win, with Kelly Wilson compiling a 15-point haul for the game.

Rachel Jarry led the charge for the Boomers with a game-high 19 points.

Meanwhile, Townsville Fire won 78-66 at home to Canberra Capitals.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bulleen-3105, bendigo-3550

First posted October 12, 2012 22:56:12

View the original article here

Jarry leads Boomers past Spirit

Updated December 07, 2011 21:37:49

Bulleen forward Rachel Jarry posted 25 points as her side beat the Spirit 76-68 in Bendigo on Wednesday night.

Jarry also had 11 rebounds in the win while centre Liz Cambage added 16 points and 11 boards for the Boomers, who improved to 7-3 with the victory.

Bulleen led from wire to wire in the tight affair, sneaking to just a five-point advantage at half-time before Bendigo clawed a point back before the final quarter.

But the Spirit were plagued by poor shooting (25-of-67 from the floor) and the Boomers scored more in the paint, thanks in part to Cambage's efforts.

Kristi Harrower did her best to quell Jarry's influence, adding 25 points of her own but, aside from Gabrielle Richards (15), the home side lacked offensive punch.

Bendigo's next fixture is on Saturday night when the club hosts AIS before the perennial struggler backs up on Sunday afternoon to visit Bulleen.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bendigo-3550, bulleen-3105, vic, australia

First posted December 07, 2011 21:37:49

View the original article here

Spirit make short work of Waves

Updated October 22, 2011 23:42:14

A fantastic start helped the Spirit to a convincing 91-52 victory over the West Coast Waves in their WNBL clash in Bendigo on Saturday night.

The hosts jumped out to a 29-8 first-quarter lead and stretched their advantage to 54-20 at half-time to all but end the contest.

The Spirit's Deanna Smith racked up a game-high 22 points as well as 11 rebounds, with team-mates Chelsea Aubry (19) and Tess Madgen (14) also contributing.

Melissa Marsh top-scored for the visiting Waves with 14 points.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bendigo-3550, vic, australia, north-perth-6006, perth-6000, wa

First posted October 22, 2011 23:00:25

View the original article here