It's only Carley Ernst's first year with the Bendigo Spirit.
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However, the seasoned WNBL player has years of experience at multiple teams.
Ernst made her debut in the WNBL with the Dandenong Rangers in 2012 before moving on to the Canberra Capitals, Adelaide Lightning, Perth Lynx and then returned to the Rangers.
Then for the 2019 season, she joined good friend Tessa Lavey at the Spirit.
Ernst took on a vice-captain leadership role for the season and has established herself as one of the team's clutch shooters.
Ernst celebrated multiple milestones last week, playing her 200th WNBL game and in the Spirit's recent one-point win over the Townsville Fire she shot her 2000th point which was sealed by a three-pointer.
"I had a great performance during the game, but it's a team sport," Ernst said.
"If the girls weren't passing good balls, setting good screens which allowed me to be open, then I wouldn't have been able to make those shots.
"We played solid defence with good ball pressure and that's what got our offence off and running."
The Spirit went into last Friday night's game against the Fire with nine consecutive losses, and were determined to secure a win.
"We play hard and train hard every week were so eager to win another game," Ernst said.
"It was the process of getting the win. We stayed with it on the court and didn't drop our heads towards the end of the game which helped us get it over the line."
With only seconds left on the clock, the ball was in Townsville's possession.
A missed two-pointer by Tess Madgen was rebounded by Bridget Carleton, but the Spirit were determined to not allow the team another go at the basket.
"We didn't want to foul or put them on the foul line," Ernst said.
"All of us had our hands up surrounding her and we kept them up after the buzzer," she laughed.
The smooth defence secured the 79-78 win over the Fire.
The Spirit will host the Canberra Capitals on Friday night, the second time the teams have met this season.
In their first match in round 10, the Capitals secured a 10-point win, 76-66.
Capitals' Keely Froling shined by putting 30 points on the board.
"We just need to come out and play the same way we did against Townsville," Ernst said.
"We will do an even better job on defence to stop them from scoring."
Ernst currently leads the team on 171 total points scored at an average of 11.4 per game.
She also leads rebounds on 98 at 6.5 per game.
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