Bendigo Spirit have ended their nine game losing streak with a triumphant one point win over Townsville Fire.
The game came down to the final seconds, with Carley Ernst getting the Spirit over the line with a two point jump shot to put the team ahead by one point, final scores 79-78.
To kick the game off the scores were neck-and-neck at quarter time, 23-23.
The boards were still quite balanced at half-time, with the Fire ahead by two points, 42-40.
At the final break, Spirit had a four point lead, which paved the way for an action-packed deciding quarter.
Ernst, who also scored her 2000th WNBL point, shot the last seven points for the Spirit, to end the game as the team's top scorer on 24 points, six rebounds, three turnovers and two assists.
The top effort also earned her joint MVP with Abbey Wehrung who finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
"We needed and wanted a win tonight as in the main part we've been a very competitive team," Spirit coach Tracy York said.
"When we were ahead by a few points we didn't want to drop our heads."
Wehrung said the team maintained composure in the final moments of the game to secure the win.
"We kept our cool and obviously there was pressure on us which goes to show we can play defence when it matters the most," Wehrung said.
"We stayed with the process and were connected.
"We maintained focus and didn't think about it too much, we just got on with what was needed to be done."
The Spirit's one point lead was put to the test, with a timeout called by the Fire with 20 seconds left on the clock.
"We knew they were going to do some kind of play, so we needed to be switched on," York said.
A two-point jump shot by Fire's Tess Madgen missed, but was rebounded by Bridget Carleton.
"The girls collapsed in on her (Carleton), once she got the rebound she was surrounded," York said.
"In the past it might have been one-on-one, but this time they were all on her and she didn't get the shot which what was needed to win."
Spirit's (3-12) next game will be back on their home court at the Bendigo Stadium against the UC Capitals (9-4) on Friday January 3, tip-off at 7pm.
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