2
Jan
4 min read
Spirit simply too much for Flames to handle
Spirit players celebrate victory during the round 10 WNBL match between Sydney Flames and Bendigo Spirit at Qudos Bank Arena on January 02, 2025 in Sydney. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images
Spirit dismantles Flames 92-71 in dominant WNBL display
- Bendigo catches fire in second quarter, blow the game open
- Spirit go to 12-2, solidify top position on the ladder
- Sydney's Celeste Taylor has 20 in losing effort
Veronica Burton, Sami Whitcomb, and Kelsey Griffin combined for 56 points as the Bendigo Spirit dismantled the Sydney Flames 92-71 (Game Centre) in round 10 of the WNBL at Qudos Bank Arena.
The Flames, clearly missing the steadying presence of injured captain Lauren Nicholson, struggled to find any rhythm offensively after the first quarter. Nicholson is missing the WNBL25 season because she is pregnant with her first child. Nicholson, who finished second in the WNBL’s MVP voting during her first season back in Sydney, and her partner Jacob Jackomas are expecting the arrival of their child in April, 2025.
The Flames kept it close through 15 minutes but the Spirit caught fire midway through the second quarter and went a game-breaking run to lead 56-41 at the half.
Bendigo's swarming defence forced 19 turnovers, converting many into easy fast-break opportunities.
The Spirit's dominance was evident across the stat sheet. They shot a scorching 50% from the field compared to Sydney's 44.1%, including a 13-11 edge in three-pointers made. Bendigo also displayed superior ball movement, racking up 23 assists to Sydney's 15. Perhaps most telling was the turnover battle, with Bendigo committing just 8 miscues to Sydney's 19.
Veronica Burton led all scorers with 20 points on an efficient 6-from-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. The second-year guard out of Northwestern also dished out 5 assists and nabbed 3 steals, showcasing her two-way impact.
For Sydney, the lone bright spot was the play of American import Celeste Taylor. The rookie guard poured in 20 points on a blistering 8-from-10 shooting, including a perfect 4-from-4 from three-point range. However, the Phoenix Mercury guard's efforts weren't nearly enough to keep pace with Bendigo's balanced attack.
The win solidifies Bendigo's position atop the WNBL ladder with a 12-2 record, while Sydney falls to 5-7 and out of the top four on percentage. The Spirit will look to continue their hot streak when they host the Flames (Game Centre) on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
