IT WAS another strong showing from the Bendigo Spirit in Round 3 of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) over the weekend, defeating the Sydney Kings by 13 points in their biggest win in nine months.

The reigning champions had been solid to start the season entering this clash, breaking even from their two outings with their only loss coming at the hands of their Finals opponent in the Townsville Fire. They were coming up against a Flames side who were in danger of slipping behind the eight-ball in an even start to the competition, with a loss set to see Sydney fall to bottom spot.

Although it was a tense first half of play at Red Energy Arena on Sunday afternoon, the Spirit were able to take control of proceedings after the main change, cruising home to a double-digit win to remain one of the contenders after three rounds.

Bendigo Spirit (88) def. Sydney Flames (75)

The Flames struggled to get going in enemy territory, missing shots and giving the Spirit easy possessions down the other end in a reasonably one-sided start to proceedings. Kelsey Griffin and Isobel Borlase started to stamp their authority on the match in the opening minutes, helping the Spirit take a five-point buffer into the main change.

Borlase started to become a real factor in the match, putting her team on her back to start the second frame and lead Bendigo to a double-digit lead early in the period. However, the visitors showed resolve in the second half of the quarter, with the most notable shift coming on the defensive end. The Flames were able to shut down the scoring of the Spirit and draw back within four points at the main change after the contest threatened to get away from them.

The third quarter was the most decisive of the match, with Bendigo’s big names stepping up on the offensive end to break the game open. The Spirit overcame a blistering third term showing from Lauren Nicholson – who dropped 16 points in the quarter – to lead by 13 points at the final change completely in control of proceedings.

Although the Flames tried to cut back the margin and chip away at the deficit, they simply could not do enough to truly give the home side a scare at Red Energy Arena. In the end, the Spirit cruised home to a 13-point win and moved back into the top three in the standings in what has been an extremely tight start to the 2025/26 fixture.

No one was more influential in the match than Borlase, who showcased her star power and just how important it was that the Spirit recruited her over the off-season. The gun signing dropped 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals on 9/12 shooting in a near-perfect performance in front of her new home crowd.

Also impressing for the Spirit were Megan McConnell (21 points, four rebounds, six assists) and Marianna Tolo (18 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks), while skipper Kelsey Griffin controlled the paint with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Despite the loss, the performance of Nicholson has to be commended, doing all that she could to drag her side over the line in enemy territory. The Flames star finished with 27 points, three rebounds and two assists in a typically productive showing.