BENDIGO Spirit will seek to erase the pain of consecutive heavy losses when they host WNBL rivals Canberra Capitals on Thursday night.
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The Spirit (3-12) are seeking redemption for a pair of nasty losses last week to the Melbourne Boomers by 44 points and Townsville Fire by 37 points.
Their loss to the Boomers was the biggest in the club’s 11-year history.
The defeats have been compounded by injuries to guard Heather Oliver and earlier week illness to in-form centre Gabe Richards, with both likely to suit up against the Capitals (3-13).
In what presents as a chance to avoid an unenviable last place finish, second-year Spirit player Ash Karaitiana said the team was intent on righting the wrongs of last week’s performances.
“We played them about two weeks and just came out on top and won by three, so it will be challenging again, but definitely winnable,” she said.
“Finals are out of the equation, but our focus for now is winning as many games as possible and finishing the season on a high and that starts against Canberra.
“As long as we continue to work together as a team and take care of the things we have lacked in the previous games, positives will come.”
The Capitals come into the game on a high after beating Dandenong Rangers last weekend.
Import forward Jordan Hooper led the way for Canberra with 21 points, while Abigail Wehrung contributed 12 points.
It’s been a season of adaptation for the 25-year-old former Australian under-19 and Sydney Uni Flames development player, who has found herself in the back-up point guard role behind import Rachel Banham.
The switch has brought a diminished focus on scoring, but Karaitiana was confident it would benefit her all-round game heading into the future.
Karaitiana is averaging 5.27 points per game (down from 6.95 in 2016-17) and 1.4 assist per game.
“Usually I play the two-three on the wing and look to score, but this year has been more about facilitation and creating for other players,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed that but it’s kept me from scoring like I did last year.
“When I came into pre-season I had to practice in that point guard position because Rachel wasn’t here, but it’s something I’m growing into.”
With finals long out of the equation, Karaitiana said there was a steel among the group to shape the composition of the final four.
The Spirit will get a chance to do that when they meet Sydney Uni Flames up north on Saturday night and again in Bendigo on New Year’s Eve, the Fire in Townsville on December 23, and Adelaide Lightning on December 29.
Meanwhile Spirit coach Simon Pritchard hinted at increased playing time for some of his side’s bench players after they stepped up to the plate against Townsville last Sunday.
Teenager Ahlise Hurst led the team with 15 points on seven-of-eight shooting, while Ashleigh Spencer produced 12 points.
