In an entertaining WNBL clash that ebbed and flowed throughout at the Bendigo Stadium, Nadeen Payne gave the Spirit a 76-75 lead when she laid in a two-pointer after the ball spilled to her off a blocked shot on team-mate Becca Tobin.

Following a Townsville time-out with 2.7 seconds left on the clock, the Fire’s Tess Madgen inbounded the ball to superstar Suzy Batkovic under the ring.

A contentious foul was called against Tobin, which put Batkovic to the line for two free throws and the chance to give the Fire back the lead with 0.7 seconds remaining.

However, Batkovic missed her first shot, but made the second to tie the scores at 76.

The Spirit had a last-ditch attempt to win the game when Tobin launched a long-range shot from over half-court that just hit above the ring, sending the match into overtime.

The Spirit scored the first two points of overtime through Payne, but a 9-0 run by the defending champions gave the ascendancy to the Fire, who went on to win 89-82 in a result that leaves Bendigo with a 6-4 record approaching the halfway mark of the season.

“It’s obviously really disappointing to lose in those circumstances, but we’ve just got to deal with it and move on,” Spirit coach Simon Pritchard said.

Star import Tobin produced a monster game for the Spirit of 26 points – including a perfect nine-of nine from the free-throw line – 19 rebounds, four blocks, four assists and one steal.

Tobin had already recorded a double-double by half-time, at which stage she had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

READ MORE – Bendigo Spirit v Townsville Fire | PHOTOS

“Becca was outstanding all game… 19 rebounds and 26 points is a lot of possession,” Pritchard said.

“With Louella (Tomlinson) out, the load on Becca and Nadeen was huge today.”

Despite copping a heavy knock to the head during the third quarter, Payne finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.

The energetic Abbey Wehrung was also a strong offensive presence for the Spirit in scoring 19 points – the bulk of which came from a combination of three-pointers (three) and attacking drives to the basket.

The Spirit went 14-of-14 from the free-throw line and led by as many as nine during the third quarter.

Batkovic had a hot hand early, scoring the Fire’s first 11 points. The six-time WNBL MVP finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds, while Madgen – a former Spirit player – was creative, dishing out 14 assists.

The Spirit and Fire meet against in Townsville on Thursday night.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.