A 2-0 start had the club on top of the Women’s National Basketball League ladder and the players and coaching staff were full of confidence.

The Spirit came back to earth with a thud over the weekend as they wasted a golden opportunity to grab a 4-0 record.

On Friday night they squandered a 14-point lead at home to lose to the previously winless Sydney Uni Flames and on Sunday afternoon they led the Melbourne Boomers by as many as 17 points before losing 71-67.

The two defeats saw the Spirit drop from first to fifth place on the table.

The Spirit looked set to blow the Boomers away after dominating much of the first half.

However, when the Boomers lifted their intensity in the third term the Spirit floundered. The Boomers only scored 25 points in the entire first half before pouring in 26 points in the third term.

To rub salt into Bendigo’s wounds, the Boomers charge was led by former Spirit star Maddie Garrick.

After being scoreless in the first half, Garrick sparked her team with 14 second-half points, including a big three-point bomb to put the Boomers in front with two minutes remaining.

The Spirit didn’t regain the lead as their offensive execution stalled. Alice Kunek and Bec Cole iced the game for the Boomers from the free throw line.

Spirit import Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe continued her great form, scoring a game-high 21 points to go with three rebounds and two steals. Kelsey Griffin had 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, while Kerryn Harrington added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Spirit face a tough road double next weekend – Dandenong on Friday night and Townsville on Sunday.