30
Nov
4 min read
That's the Spirit: Burton drops 22 in 7th straight
Bendigo players react during the round one WNBL match between Bendigo Spirit and Adelaide Lightning at Red Energy Arena, on November 30, 2024, in Bendigo, Australia. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
Bendigo Spirit unbeaten to start the 2024-25 WNBL season
- Bendigo Spirit rolls UC Capitals by 20 — 98-78
- Veronica Burton shines with 22 points and a solid 70% shooting from the field.
- Bendigo unbeaten after six WNBL games to start season
W. W. W. W. W. W. W.
Can any stop the Bendigo Spirit? So far the answer is a resounding no. The Spirit claimed their seventh straight win to start the WNBL season on Saturday, November 30, 2024 with another dominate win, beating the UC Capitals 98-78 (Game Centre) at home at Red Energy Arena.
Bendigo (7-0) has a monster +109 points differential, Perth is second on the ladder at 6-1 with a +66 differential.
Game Highlights and Key Performances
The Bendigo Spirit was led by Veronica Burton, who scored a game-high 22 points, impressively shooting 70% from the field, including 60% from downtown. Australian Opal and WNBA star Sami Whitcomb also made a big-time contribution with 20 points and nine boards, despite four turnovers. Marianna Tolo added a solid 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
The Spirit shot 47.1% from the field and a 89% from the charity stripe and a moderate 33.3% from outside the arc.
On the other side of the ball, UC Capitals struggled with only 37% shooting from the field and 23.1% from three-point range. Australian Opal and WNBA star Jade Melbourne struggled big-time. She scored five points on just 1-for-11 from the field, making just 1-of-5 from three. But she did contribute despite her poor shooting, grabbing 10 boards, dishing eight assists and three steals in 34 minutes.
Without Melbourne filling it up, the Caps struggle can still score the ball, especially against the high-calibre defence of the league leaders, but they need their one-two punch. Melbourne came in averaging more than 17.
WNBA draftee Nyadiew Puoch had 16 points on 5-for-11 from the field, and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Charli Collier chipped in with 10 points on 3-for-8, Indiah Bowyer had 10 on 3-for-7 and Monique Bobongie 10 on 5-for-11.
Looking Ahead
The Bendigo Spirit put their unbeaten record to the test against second-placed 6-1 Perth Lynx (Game Centre) in Perth on Thursday, December 5, 2024 in Round Six while The Caps (2-5) take on the (2-4) Southside Flyers (Game Centre) on Wednesday December 4, 2024.
