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THE star-studded Bendigo Braves women head into their NBL1 Easter break with an unblemished 5-0 record after disposing of Frankston by 18 points at home on Thursday night.
Outstanding games from the quartet of Gabe Richards, Kelly Wilson, Tessa Lavey and Nadeen Payne were the catalyst for the Braves' 99-81 Good Friday eve victory.
While the final margin was 18 points, the Braves' advantage had been more than double that during the third quarter when they led by 37 points.
The Blues were powerless to stop the post play of Richards, who continued her outstanding season with her fourth double-double.
Richards finished with 29 points - a team-high for the Braves this season - on 13-of-18 shooting from the field, while also hauling down 15 rebounds and dishing out seven assists in just over 29 minutes of court time.
Richards scored 12 of her points in the final quarter.
Payne was a perfect four-from-four from three-point range as she needed just 15 minutes to pour in 25 points.
However, Payne's game ended midway through the third quarter with cramp shortly after she connected on her fourth three-pointer.
Lavey had a hot hand early, scoring 11 points in the opening quarter before finishing with 22, including five three-pointers.
And Wilson produced a passing clinic, dishing out 16 assists alongside her 17 points and eight rebounds.
The Braves led 26-18 at quarter-time before launching a 20-0 run to open the second term as the game quickly became a blowout.
By half-time Bendigo led 58-32, at which stage the trio of Richards (17 points), Lavey (16) and Payne (14) had outscored Frankston by 15.
To Frankston's credit, though, the Blues fought the game out strongly, outscoring Bendigo 49-41 in the second half, but the damage had well and truly done before the main break.
"We have been a bit cold from outside in our previous games, so it was nice to hit some outside shots tonight," Bendigo coach Megan Moody said.
"And the way Gabe worked inside was just fantastic... she made her shots, but she's also a fantastic passer and had seven assists as well."
Bendigo smashed Frankston 50-31 in rebounds.
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