A DOMINANT performance that led the Bendigo Bank Spirit to a key road win in Adelaide on Friday night has seen Kelsey Griffin named the WNBL's Player of the Week.
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Bendigo's star WNBA import caught fire against the Lightning and inspired the Spirit to an important 84-76 triumph.
Griffin poured in a season-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, brought down 10 rebounds and recorded two blocks, propelling the ladder leaders to their eighth-straight win.
The Spirit then set a new club record for wins on the trot with an 81-54 triumph in Perth the following night.
Griffin was again in top form in only 20 minutes' court time against the West Coast Waves, scoring seven points with five boards, two steals, assists and blocks.
Last year's Grand Final MVP said the reigning premiers are starting to click into gear.
"It definitely does (feel like last season),” Griffin told the WNBL website.
"This season, it’s taken us a bit of time to get our chemistry right, with everyone coming off different seasons.
“With the Bendigo Braves doing so well in the SEABL, adding Elyse (Penaluna) and Sara (Blicavs) into the mix, along with Chelsea (Aubry) and Kristi (Harrower) deciding to come back and me coming off a WNBA season, it just took us a little bit to remember how to play with each other.
"I feel like now we’re finally starting to get it again, but we still have so much room to improve."
Griffin credited the Spirit for helping her rekindle her love of basketball last season.
The 26-year-old returned to the WNBA in the Australian off-season and produced her most fruitful season - averaging almost nine points and five rebounds for the Connecticut Sun.
The 188cm forward has been building towards her glittering best form for the Spirit this campaign.
Griffin hauled-in a club record 20 rebounds against Logan in round six and has hit full stride ahead of Bendigo's toughest run of matches to date.
The Spirit again faces Adelaide, this time at Bendigo Stadium, on Saturday afternoon, before a top-of-the-table clash against the Melbourne Boomers in round 10.
Home clashes against Sydney, which shocked the Boomers last weekend to reignite its top-four chances, and third-placed Dandenong then await the Spirit leading into the league's Christmas break.
