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THE Australia Pork Bendigo Spirit will be aiming to capitalise on home-court advantage and the roar of fans in Saturday night's Women's National Basketball League clash with Townsville Fire.
Townsville tipped off this round by winning Friday night's match in Adelaide by 18 points.
A formidable Fire line-up includes Suzy Batkovic, Cayla Francis, Stephanie Cumming and Mia Newley.
Spirit goes into this clash at Bendigo Stadium on a 5-2 record and third on the ladder.
The play of Belinda Snell, Sara Blicavs, Kelsey Griffin, Kelly Wilson, Tessa Lavey and Kristi Harrower will be crucial to Bendigo's chances.
Both of these clubs have met in the past two WNBL grand finals on Bendigo's court.
The Bernie Harrower-coached Spirit won both times.
Saturday night's battle between Bendigo and Townsville tips off at 7.30pm
7.22pm: Calf injury has forced Spirit centre Gabe Richards to be on sidelines for this contest.
Spirit takes no risk with such a crucial player after she was hurt at Thursday night's training session.
7.33pm: Snell three-pointer. Bendigo leads 3-0.
7.35pm: Super start by Spirit's Kelsey Griffin with consecutive three-point plays. Spirit lead 9-4.
7.37pm: Bendigo leads 13-4 after 3 1/2 minutes. Kelly Wilson drives to key and scores two points in play before time-out.
7.40pm: Fire fighting back. Spirit up 19-11 at four minutes to go in a highly-charged opening.
7.41pm: Mia Newley hits three-pointer for Fire. Bendigo lesds 19-14.
7.45pm: Spirit up 21-19 at 1.45 to go in first.
7.48pm: Spirit leads 27-23 at quarter-time.
7.50pm: Bendigo attack led by Griffin 8, Snell 6, Blicavs 4, Kelly Wilson 3.
Micaela Cocks and Mia Newley on five apiece for Fire.
7.53pm: Spirit up 31-26 early in second term.
Kristi Harrower is on court for first time in this clash.
7.56pm: Fire within two after Francis scores two. Bendigo leads 31-29.
7.58pm: Blicavs two puts Spirit up 34-29.
8pm: Blicavs two at foul-line. Bendigo up 36-29 at 5.34 to go in half. Defensive pressure by both teams a key.
8.02pm: Newley three puts Fire within four.
8.03pm: Francis two at foul-line answered by Snell two.
8.05: Another three-point play by Griffin puts Spirit up 41-36.
8.07pm: Excellent teamwork in key capped by Griffin two. Spirit leads 43-38.
8.09pm: Spirit up 43-40 going into last minute.
8.12pm: Bendigo leads 47-40 at half-time.
8.14pm: Incredible finish to half. Belinda Snell mid-court steal sets up two points by Taylor.
Heather Oliver intercepts inbound pass from baseline and adds another two.
8.18pm - Leading stats to half-time:
Bendigo - Griffin 17 points, 5 rebounds; Blicavs 9 points; Snell 8, 4; Tayla Roberts 4 points; Kelly Wilson 3 points.
Townsville - Newley 8 points, 3 rebounds; Batkovic 7, 7; Cocks 7 points; Rachael McCully 6 points.
Spirit is 9/10 at free-throw line. Fire 6/9.
Fire leads rebounds, 20-14.
8.23pm: Second half about to start. Bendigo leads 47-40.
8.25pm: Cumming (2) for Fire.
8.26pm: Griffin three.
8.27pm: Francis (2), Blicavs (2) in free-flowing duel.
8.28pm: Cumming hits all three at foul-line. Spirit leads 52-47.
8.29pm: Spirit up 54-47 at 6.13 to go.
8.34pm: Newley three after run of missed shots by both teams. Bendigo leads 54-50.
8.35pm; It's 54-all aftef Newley 2, and Batkovic are on target.
8.40pm: Fire's run of seven unanswered points ends as Snell scores one at foul-line. Spirit up 55-54.
8.41pm: Fire's lead after Batkovic two lasts a few seconds as Snell scores two for Bendigo.
Spirit lead 57-56 at three quarter-time.
Spirit attack led by Griffin 20, Blicavs 11, Snell 11.
Newley 13, Batkovic 11, best for Fire.
8.46pm: Maddie Garrick (2) scores for Spirit.
8.48pm: What a contest, 60-all at 6.45 to play.
8.49pm; Griffin two at foul-line. Spirit up 62-60.
8.51pm: Cumming (2) makes it 62-all.
8.52pm; Batkovic adds two under immense pressure in key. Fire lead 64-62 at 4.37 to play.
8.55pm: Fire up 66-62 after Batkovic two.
8.56pm: Time-out. Townsviile leads by four and has possession when play restarts. 2.55 on clock.
8.57pm: Wilson (2).
9pm: Fire 66-64 at 45 seconds to go. Bendigo has ball.
9.01pm; 66-all at 37 seconds to go after Griffin two from drive. Time-out.
9.02pm: McCully two makes it 68-66 in Fire's favour.
There's 14 seconds to go after time-out. Spirit has ball.
9.05pm: Wilson (2) levels game. Time-out. Six seconds on clock.
9.06pm: Fire shot at one second to go off target. 68-all. Overtime.
Griffin has scored 24 for Bendigo.
9.08pm: Overtime begins.
Travel call on Batkovic.
Spirit miss. Fire miss.
Blicavs (2), Francis (2).
Consecutive shots by Fire off target.
Kelly Wilson three puts Spirit up, 73-70 at 2.50 to go.
Batkovic two at stripe.
Spirit miss.
Cocks (3). Fire up 75-73 at 1.50 to go.
Spirit miss, but have possession after turnover.
Aubry three, Spirit by one.
Spirit 76-75 at 24 seconds to go.
Harrower sinks two at foul-line. Bendigo 78-75 af 24 to play. Time-out.
Fire has two shots on last attack, but both astray.
Spirit wins 78-75.
Spirit MVP award to Griffin.
Coaches award to Blicavs.
Bendigo award to Fire's presented to Suzy Batkovic.
Another classic contest between two of the WNBL's greatest rivals in recent seasons.
Bendigo Spirit 78 d Townsville Spirit 75.
Leading points - Bendigo: Griffin 24, Blicavs 13, K Wilson 12, Snell 11, Aubry 5, Garrick 5. Townsville: Batkovic 17, Newley 13, Cocks 12, Cumming 11, 8 Francis, 8 McCully.