The Villawood Properties Bendigo Spirit remain winless (0-8) in the 2020 WNBL season after a 36-point loss to the Canberra Capitals on Saturday night.
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The Caps were able to contain the Spirit at each break by slowly extending their lead throughout the match, finishing up the clash at 87-51.
The Spirit started the game well and were near level with the Caps for most of the first quarter until the reigning champions broke away by eight points to take an early lead.
During the second the lead was extended by a 0-18 run by the Caps, leaving Bendigo down by 21 at half time and then by 33 at three-quarter time.
The Spirit were unable to meet the Caps' high energy throughout the game and lost their rhythm at times, but remained committed to seeing out the match the best they could, including a standout performance from Piper Dunlop.
"Consistency is eluding us at the moment, but Piper was a bright spot, going three from three from the floor and holding up her end defensively," coach Tracy York said to the WNBL.
"At the end of the first we were still within striking distance, but then they were able to get away with that 18-point stretch in the second."
However, with five games left in the season York said the Spirit wouldn't be taking their foot off the pedal anytime soon.
"We are going to play out the remainder of the season as hard as we can...which is important for all of us to continue with our processes and do the best we can," York said.
Rising star and Bendigo local Dunlop was the Spirit's golden performer with six points, one rebound and one assist.
"The girls back me up on everything. I came here as a little kid but I feel like they're really boosting my confidence and I couldn't have asked for a better team,'' Dunlop said to the WNBL.
"In every photo there's a smile on my face and that's because I'm always smiling. This is an experience I'll cherish for the rest of my life and I'm over the moon to be here."
Dunlop's first year with the Spirit hasn't been the smoothest so far, but the 17-year-old believes Bendigo's first win of the season will come to fruition soon.
"We've got to keep our heads up, keep pushing hard, we all have a great work ethic. I'm not stressed at all about it, we'll pull through," she said.
The Spirit will start the fourth round of the season on Tuesday night with a clash against the Perth Lynx in Townsville (9PM AEDT).
Next is the Melbourne Boomers on Saturday, followed by a game the next day against the Sydney Flames.
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