UPDATE: The Bendigo Spirit clinched a hard-fought victory, overcoming a late-game scoring drought to defeat the Geelong Venom 62-55 in their first win of the WNBL season on July 18, 2023, at Red Energy Arena. This decisive matchup saw the Spirit, wearing their striking Indigenous uniform, battle back from a challenging fourth quarter where they trailed after leading by 10 points at halftime.
The game entered a tense final quarter, with the Venom seizing momentum and taking a 50-49 lead with just over four minutes left. The Spirit’s offense struggled with missed shots and turnovers, allowing Geelong to score an impressive 8-0 run. However, co-captain Kelsey Griffin broke the drought with a crucial basket, regaining the lead for Bendigo.
Tension mounted as Geelong’s Lilly Rotunno attempted a potential game-tying three-pointer in the closing moments, but her shot missed. The rebound fell to Geelong’s Alex Sharp, who also failed to convert, allowing Bendigo’s Abbey Wehrung to secure possession. Wehrung quickly passed to teammate Megan McConnell, who was fouled and made one of her two free throws, extending the Spirit’s lead to three points. Co-captain Marianna Tolo sealed the victory with a lay-up, pushing the margin to seven points following a turnover by Geelong.
This victory brings Bendigo’s record to 1-1 for the season after a previous loss to Townsville. The Spirit’s defense was remarkable, limiting Geelong to just 55 points, especially considering the Venom had scored 110 in their last game against Adelaide.
“We’re happy with the win, and we’ll take two key lessons from it,” stated Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama. “Firstly, Geelong’s pressure sped us up, and we expected a slower game. Secondly, we held a team that scored over 100 points last game to just 55, but we still have room for improvement.”
Isobel Borlase, the Spirit’s high-profile signing, shone again, leading the scoring with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Tolo added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Wehrung contributed 11 points and five rebounds. Despite forcing Bendigo into 22 turnovers, Geelong couldn’t capitalize enough to secure the win.
“Credit to Geelong; their pressure made us rush our passes,” Tolo reflected on the match. “We will learn from those mistakes moving forward.”
Looking ahead, the Spirit will face the Sydney Flames this Sunday at 12:30 PM at the same venue, aiming to build on this momentum. As the WNBL season progresses, fans are eager to see how Bendigo will adapt and improve. The urgency for improvement and the spirit of competition continue to fuel the excitement around the league.
