BENDIGO Lady Braves coach Jonathan Goodman has lamented his side's inability to put four good quarters of defence together following a road loss to the Kilsyth Cobras.
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The Lady Braves dropped to 8-4 after being stung by the Cobras 76-66 on Sunday afternoon at the Kilsyth Sports Centre.
Goodman said the Lady Braves had plenty of chances to win the game, but were made to pay for an ordinary final quarter in which they surrendered 30 points, despite holding the Cobras to 46 points in the opening three terms.
"We got 10 offensive boards in the first quarter, played well in the second and late in the third, but then unfortunately we didn't come out with any effort in the fourth and gave up 30," she said.
"Kilsyth are a really quality group and were missing one of their big insiders and we should have capitalised on that, but we didn't.
"Our starts are killing us. This group needs to understand that they need to play defence for four quarters to win a game."
The Lady Braves were always on the back foot after being nine points down at quarter time, before working back into the contest by outscoring the home side 32-25 in the middle two quarters.
Former Bendigo Spirit star Maddie Garrick inflicted the most damage on the Lady Braves and finished with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Import post-player Angela Beadle had 12 rebounds to complement her 16 points, while another former Spirit player Chantelle Perera had 13 points.
For the Lady Braves, import Ashley Rininger top-scored with 17 points and hauled in nine rebounds, while guard Bianca Dufelmeir impressed with 14 points and three assists.
Chloe Bibby finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while Chante Black had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Braves were without Carlie Smith, who was rested as a precaution with a knee complaint.
Kilsyth coach Sam Woosnam believed her team's 21-12 opening quarter was every bit as instrumental in the win than its impressive fourth quarter showing.
"It was always going to be hard for them playing catch-up basketball," she said.
"They made a run back at us and they played zone (defence) for 40 minutes which doesn't help us at all.
"They did a good job to get back into it in the second half, but we were lucky enough to grind it out and hold on."
Former WNBL legend Woosnam rated Dufelmeir as the Lady Braves' best on Sunday.
The Lady Braves host the Melbourne Tigers this Saturday night.
