Bendigo Spirit inch closer to a WNBL Championship

Game Summary

Bendigo Spirit take Game 1 of the 24/25 WNBL Grand Final Series. It was a low-scoring night for both teams, and their defensive prowess was on show. It was close through the entire match, but a strong final quarter performance by the Spirit led to their crucial win.

Veronica Burton was the star of the night, scoring 24 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Burton has been phenomenal all season working well with the entire Spirit roster. Marianna Tolo was also impressive with 15 points and 9 rebounds. While League MVP, Sami Whitcomb shone in the last quarter to help secure the win. Whitcomb was held quiet in the first half, Saffron Shiels minimising her impact and guarding her well.

Despite the loss, the Fire held the lead for the first half of the match. Lauren Cox started well, proving as a menace in defence. She finished the night with 4 blocks. Abbey Ellis caught fire late with 17 points but was unable to get the whole team going. It's a must-win game on Sunday, and the Fire will need all parts to be working together to get the job done.

Game 2 is on Sunday at 2PM AEST in Townsville.

Score
Bendigo Spirit (70) defeated Townsville Fire (60)

Venue

Red Energy Arena, Bendigo

Best photo

Marianna Tolo and Sami Whitcomb celebrate after the win against the Townsville Fire.

Game Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/@wnbl/featured 

Game Stats

Bendigo Spirit v Townsville Fire - Box Score

Game images

Getty  (all WNBL images this season)