THE Bendigo Bank Spirit has stumbled to a loss in its opening game of the 2015-16 WNBL season.
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Up against the South East Queensland Stars, the Spirit were no match for the women's league newcomers, who won 80-63.
Import Kelsey Griffin showed no effects of the hip injury which sidelined her for the majority of the WNBA season in the United States, leading the Spirit with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The two-time grand final MVP was in a race against time to be fit for the Spirit's opening match after undergoing surgery in June, but showed she will again be a force to be reckoned with for rival WNBL clubs.
She was well supported by guard Heather Oliver (15 points, four rebounds, two blocked shots) and centre Gabe Richards (12 points, 15 rebounds).
The pair had been standouts during winter in the Bendigo BFNL A-grade netball competition, where Oliver was a runaway winner of the Betty Thompson Medal as the league's best and fairest, and they carried that form on to the basketball court at Logan Metro in Brisbane.
American Joy Burke had six points and four rebounds in 15.36 minutes in her Spirit debut, after encountering early foul troubles.
The Spirit were able to out rebound the Stars 43-36, but committed eight more turnovers than the Stars (19-9).
South East Queensland helped itself to 14 points off turnovers, compared to just six from the Spirit.
The Stars did not waste time in announcing their arrival into the competition, notching a win under coach Shane Heal in game one.
They were brilliantly led by imports Danesha Stallworth (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Ify Ibekwe (19 points, nine rebounds and a game-high three steals).
Captain Rachel Jarry added 14 points and five rebounds, while guard Lauren Mansfield ended with eight points, a game-high eight assists and five rebounds.
The Stars were without Opals pair Erin Phillips and Rebecca Allen, who are recovering from injuries suffered during the WNBA season.
The road ahead does not get any easier for the Spirit, who face reigning WNBL champions the Townsville Fire tonight at Townsville RSL Stadium tonight at 7pm.
A home opener against the Perth Lynx on October 18 awaits on their return.
