DEFENCE will be the key when the Bendigo Lady Braves aim to make it four wins in a row this weekend.
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The Lady Braves play an undermanned BA Centre of Excellence squad at home on Friday, with their opponents missing WNBA draftee Carley Mijovic and Australian centre Natalie Burton.
Both players are touring the US with the Opals, as is Bendigo tall Alex Bunton.
US import LaSondra Barrett said the Lady Braves were working hard to tighten their defence after leaking points, even in recent victories over Launceston and Geelong where they conceded scores of 86 and 73 respectively.
"We know we can score - we are talented enough, but our defence has been our Achilles heel," the versatile forward said, "because we are too talented to be giving up as many points as we are."
She said coach Jonathan Goodman also wanted his side to be aggressive.
"There are certain keys to the game he wants us to do but if we take care of our defence, play smart and have an aggressive mentality, that will take precedence over everything.
"We don't need a game plan with lots of other points - those are the main keys."
The Lady Braves complete their double-header by taking on Albury-Wodonga at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre on Saturday night.
The Bandits have won just one of their eight games this season but Barrett said Bendigo, which has a 5-2 record, won't be complacent.
"Anybody can get beaten on any given night... so you can never take any team lightly," she said.
"We have to come in and take care of what we do best - and that's how we'll play."