After the departure of import Barbara Turner, Bendigo Spirit Coach Simon Pritchard needed a player to step up and join the team’s starting five.
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Marena Whittle stepped up to the role and the Melbourne-born player said the experience had improved her on-court ability.
“I felt like I was struggling to learn my role in the team during the middle of the season,” Whittle said.
“But stepping into the starting five has helped me learn my role and the team is adapting to having me on the court for longer.”
Whittle has started seven games so far in the 2018/19 WNBL season, but has made the most impact during the previous two games against the Melbourne Boomers and Townsville Fire.
Marena Whittle is currently in her debut season as a WNBL player, after spending the 2017/18 season as a development player for the Townsville Fire.
One of the biggest differences for Whittle has been the contrast of game pace starting on the court in comparison to off the bench.
“It’s a completely different start to a game, from tip-off you are more involved with all gears going,” Whittle said.
“Off the bench your involvement is only watching so when you step onto the court you don’t have a complete feel for the game which can make it hard to have an immediate positive impact.”
Star player Nadeen Payne was also called on by Pritchard to increase her presence on the court.
“Simon and I spoke about being more aggressive on the offensive front and to become more of a scoring threat,” Payne said.
Payne has been the leading scorer for Bendigo’s past two games with 21 points against Townsville and 17 points against Melbourne.
“It has been important for me as a player because it has helped me move forward and understand where my career is going with the team,” Payne said.
Payne will not take to the court against the UC Capitals on Friday night as she will rest to recover from a minor achilles injury.
However, Pritchard’s plan is for Payne to return to the court on Sunday for Spirit’s home game against the Perth Lynx.
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