A brilliant third quarter burst from star player Deanna Smith proved the difference in the Bendigo Bank Spirit’s important win against Dandenong at Bendigo Stadium last night.
Smith scored a game-high 30 points, 14 of those in the third term, to help the Spirit pull away from a dogged Dandenong team and win 84-77.
In a strong team performance, Spirit controlled the match from early in the first quarter, but the Bendigo side could not shake the Rangers on the scoreboard.
Scores were level at quarter-time at 24 points apiece and the second quarter was neck-and-neck until a brain explosion from Dandenong centre Krista Phillips cost her team crucial momentum heading into the half-time break.
Phillips missed two shots from under the basket in the dying seconds of the term before being called twice for tech-fouling – once for abusing the referee and then for swearing loudly – which led to her being ejected from the match on the stroke of half-time.
The outbursts handed Smith, who had been a solid but not spectacular performer up to that point, four free-throws before half-time which she duly converted to lift Bendigo to a six-point lead at the main break.
The momentum swung firmly towards the Spirit heading into the premiership quarter and Smith’s excellent term opened up a 10-point break at the final change.
“I think I just came out raring to go, it was an important game for us, defence was a focus and everything flowed from that,” Smith said.
“(Phillips’ ejection from the game) really sort of changed momentum, to get that positive flow and go into the changerooms and then come out firing.”
Dandenong closed the gap to five points midway through the last term, causing a few nervous moments in the Spirit camp, but the Bendigo side held on to claim the win and the all-important head-to-head advantage against the Rangers.
Spirit coach Bernie Harrower was pleased to get over the line against a team determined to end a three game losing streak.
“We had so many opportunities where we should have put them away, but credit to them they kept coming back at us, they didn’t lay down and capitulate,” Harrower said.
Harrower praised Smith’s excellent match, in particular her scoring ability which has brought added firepower to the team – but he also acknowledged the team effort.
“We got good spreads from other people on the floor as well, Chelsea (Aubry) played a little cameo (eight points at 100% accuracy) and Gabe (Richards 11 points and 11 rebounds) was good at times,” he said.
Tess Madgen and Kristi Harrower also contributed strongly, with 15 and 14 points respectively, while they both had three assists.
For the Rangers, Kathleen Macleod and Tegan Cunningham were the standout performers with 18 and 16 points respectively.
The Spirit has now won four consecutive matches and travels to play Canberra tomorrow in the first of four matches on the road.
“We’ve now got to go on the road and get the win down in Canberra and if we do that we’re certainly going to play finals,” Harrower said.
“If we can get that one we’ll be 10 and six and looking pretty good.”
The Bendigo Bank Spirit improved its home record to 6-2 after last night’s win.
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