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STAR recruit Carlie Smith says the Bendigo Lady Braves are intent on putting last week's loss to Geelong Supercats behind them as they push to grab top spot in the SEABL south conference.
The Lady Braves enter a round 16 clash against Ballarat Rush level with top-placed Dandenong at 13-6, but trailing the Rangers on percentage by 5.38.
Only wins in their last three remaining games are likely to lock up the number one seed in the conference finals.
"With finals coming up, we definitely need to keep our position," she said.
"A lot of teams will obviously be hungry to get wins to get into the finals, so it's important we come out ready to play.
"If we do that we'll be okay."
Despite being hampered by an ongoing knee injury in the Geelong loss, Smith declared she would be fit for action against the Rush.
"I'm still having a few issues with it, but I am working on it everyday and trying to get it to where I need it to be," she said.
"It's pretty uncomfortable to play with, but I'm sucking it up and doing what I can for the team."
Smith said the Lady Braves had identified team defence as the area which had let them down most against the Supercats.
That has been a major focus at training this week as the Lady Braves look to contain Rush imports Jaterra Bonds (19.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.9 apg) and former Bendigo Spirit player Joy Burke (14.1 ppg and 11.8 rpg).
The Rush are boosted by a pair of last season’s Bendigo Spirit players in Ashleigh Spencer and Molly Mathews.
For the Lady Braves, guards Tahnee Cannan and Bianca Dufelmeier had a pair of strong games last weekend, including a Friday night win over Frankston Blues.
Chante Black led the scoing against Geelong with 21 points and is averaging 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds on the season.
Rising star Jess Rennie will play for the Lady Braves, who have just eight players available due to the unavailability of point guard Kelly Wilson (broken thumb) and Chloe Bibby (Australian Gems).
Rennie's Youth Lady Braves teammates Madi Sexton, Ahlise Hurst and Alex Strawhorn will play in the Braves' Big V elimination final in Sandringham on Saturday afternoon.