A ROAD trip to Dandenong awaits the Bendigo Lady Braves in the first week of SEABL finals after they failed to lock up top spot on the weekend.
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The Lady Braves had to settle for second position in the SEABL south conference after being beaten by the Melbourne Tigers by 11 points at the Melbourne Sport and Aquatic Centre on Saturday.
They paid dearly for a poor third quarter after working hard for a three point lead at the main break.
The Tigers, led by Hanna Zavecz and WNBL star Louella Tomlinson, reeled off 25 points to the Lady Braves’ six in the third quarter and opened up a 16 point lead heading into the final quarter.
The Lady Braves, who finished the regular season 14-8, battled hard to get themselves into the game and scored 27 points in the final term.
But as had been the case during the third quarter, limiting the Tigers, who added 22 points, proved a much tougher task as the home side kept the Lady Braves at bay to win 76-65.
It was only the Tigers’ seventh win for the season from 22 games and relegated the Lady Braves into second place behind the Dandenong Rangers.
Zavecz, who spent one WNBL season with the Bendigo Spirit in 2008-09 and more recently played for the Canberra Capitals, produced a game-high 31 points.
Her effort was complemented by eight rebounds and five assists.
Tomlinson, who has signed to play for the Melbourne Boomers this WNBL season, scored 14 points and had a game-high 16 rebounds, while Monique Conti and Peri Kalka both had 11 points.
For the Lady Braves, Ashley Rininger top scored with 10 points and was the only player to register double figures as 11 of the 12 players to suit-up hit the scoresheet.
Chloe Bibby, who only returned to Australia late in the week from Italy, where she represented the Australian Gems at the Under-19 World Cup, was next best with eight points.
The Lady Braves also welcomed back point guard Kelly Wilson (five points, seven rebounds and two assists), but were without injured centre Chante Black, who has been battling a foot injury.
A spot in the south conference grand final will be up for grabs when the Lady Braves meet the Rangers in Dandenong.
The loser will face a home preliminary final against the winner of the third and fourth-place semi-final between the Launceston Tornadoes and Hobart Chargers.
Despite winning 12 of their last 14 games, Ballarat Rush (11-11) narrowly missed the finals.
The Rush won their final game 94-90 against the Centre of Excellence, with Bendigo Spirit player Ashleigh Spencer starring with 33 points and five assists.
