A knee injury to import Betnijah Laney overshadowed a gutsy performance by the Bendigo Spirit in Adelaide on Saturday.
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Laney only played seven minutes before she slipped in the key and felt pain in her knee and groin.
It’s the same knee that Laney had reconstructed in 2016. She’ll undergo scans in Bendigo on Monday.
“We’re hopeful that it will be good news and she won’t need another reconstruction,’’ Spirit coach Simon Pritchard said of Laney.
“We’re hoping it’s just a strain.”
Despite Laney’s absence, the Spirit took the Adelaide Lightning to overtime.
Trailing by 15 points with a quarter to play, the Spirit produced a brave fightback in the final term to level the scores.
The Spirit scored the first basket in overtime to take the lead, but four turnovers killed off Bendigo’s hopes of posting a winning score. The Lightning steadied to win 79-75.
Centre Gabe Richards had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Spirit, while Kelsey Griffin worked tirelessly for her 17 points and 16 boards.
Point guard Rachel Banham played her best game of the season with 17 points and five rebounds.
The Spirit (1-4) have a rematch with Adelaide in Bendigo this Friday night.