Bendigo breaks Flyers spirit with 18-0 run in 4th

• Veronica Burton leads Spirit with 20 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds
• Marianna Tolo dominates paint with double-double: 18 points, 11 rebounds
• Naz Hillmon's 17 points and 8 rebounds not enough for Flyers

The Bendigo Spirit caught fire the fourth quarter, overcoming 13-point deficit, to break the Southside Flyers 79-71 (Game Centre) in the last game of Round Four of the WNBL season match on November 24, 2024.

The Spirit are now 6-0 but it was bleak when Flyers and Opals forward Alice Kunek made a lay-up in the first minute of the fourth to put Southside up 64-51.

WNBA star Sami Whitcomb's three-pointer on the next possession brought the Spirit back to 10, Bec Cole's lay-up pushed it back to 12 but the Spirit, as their name suggests, dug in and went on a back-breaking 18-0 run over the next six minutes.

The Flyers called a time out mid-quarter in a bid to stop the momentum but it failed.

Whitcomb, who plays for the Seattle Storm, iced the comeback win with a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left. Whitcomb finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and an assist.

Burton and Tolo spearhead Spirit's success

Connecticut Sun guard Veronica Burton put on a masterclass performance for the Spirit, showcasing her all-around game with a team-high 20 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds. The dynamic guard's leadership on both ends of the court proved instrumental in Bendigo's win.

When Bendigo signed Burton in October, Spirit head Coach Kennedy Kereama was already excited.

“Veronica is someone who we think fits our program perfectly," he said.

"She can handle the ball and play point guard but is also effective without the ball in her hands and will slot in with Sami (Whitcomb) seamlessly.”

“Her ability to pressure the ball and contain guards will be huge in our goal of getting the Spirit back to the finals”

Marianna Tolo was equally impressive, dominating the paint with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Her presence inside was a constant thorn in the Flyers' side, as she shot an efficient 61.5% from the field.

Five Bendigo players finished in double figures: Burton 20, Tolo 18, Abbey Wehrung 13, Casey Samuels 12, and Whitcomb 11.

Flyers fall short despite balanced attack

The Southside Flyers put up a valiant fight, with Naz Hillmon leading the charge with 17 points and eight rebounds. Bec Cole added 18 points and five assists, while Alice Kunek contributed 11 points in 38 minutes.

Five Flyers players also finished in double figures: Cole 18, Hillmon 17, Kunek 11, Dallas Loughridge 10, and Mikayla Vaughn 10.

Looking ahead: Playoff implications

With this victory, the Bendigo Spirit improve their record to 6-0, solidifying top spot on the WNBL ladder. Next up for the Spirit is the Canberra Capitals (Game Centre) on November 30, 2024. The Capitals are 2-4 heading into Round Five and face a tough, tough road game against the best team in the league.

The Southside Flyers fell to 2-3. Their next match against the 4-1 Perth Lynx (Game Centre) on December 1, 2024, will be crucial in their bid to climb the ladder.