WITH the current round of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) in full swing, the schedule continued into Saturday. There was a pair of intriguing clashes on the day, as the competition just about reaches the conclusion of the home-and-away season. With finals just around the corner, each game carries a bit more significance given how close the standings are at the moment.

Things kicked off at Bendigo Stadium, where the Bendigo Spirit played host to the Sydney Uni Flames on Saturday afternoon. Both sides will not make an appearance in the postseason, so this match was more about finishing the season in style and building some momentum heading into their next campaign.

It was a tense affair for the entirety of the contest, with neither side able to grab a true advantage on the scoreboard. The lead ended up going back-and-forth plenty of times, as the Spirit looked to hold off an upset at the hands of the lower-placed Flames at home. There were some extremely crucial plays down the stretch, with the result far from sealed heading into the final minute. The biggest moment of the match ended up Kalani Purcell‘s tough and-one lay-up to give her side the lead with just 30 seconds remaining. Sydney Uni was able to hold on to this advantage and claim a five-point triumph on the road.

For the Flames, Keely Froling was the standouts with a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds as she got her side to a winning score with some impressive play. She was deadly from inside the arc, making eight of her 16 attempts from the field in a terrific display. She had some good help from Shyla Heal, who sank some big free throws in the most crucial stages of the game.

The second match in Saturday’s double-header saw the UC Capitals head west to take on the Perth Wildcats at Bendat Basketball Centre later in the evening. It was a blockbuster matchup, with both sides competing for top spot on the eve of the finals, so the stakes were quite high. In the end, the cream rose to the top, as the Capitals delivered a magnificent performance to take down the Lynx to the tune of 16 points and storm to the top of the standings in the most crucial point of the season. The Capitals were fantastic on the offensive end, while the Lynx could not get their game rolling for much of the game, and this was the difference in the end.

Arguably the most entertaining factor of this match was the battle of the point guards, with the two starting players in this position each delivering a masterful offensive performance. Brittney Sykes was fantastic for the winning side, controlling the game with 32 points and eight assists, while Jackie Young was the match’s highest scorer, giving the Lynx a much needed boost with 36 points. It made for some compelling viewing as the pair traded buckets in style.