Round 13 DrinkWise Game Preview

WHEN: Friday 9 January
TIME: 7.30pm AEDT
WHERE: Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat
TICKETS: Available via Ticketek

Although still atop the WNBL standings, Bendigo Spirit heads into tomorrow night's clash in Ballarat reeling from a tough 89-78 loss to Sydney Flames earlier in the week, which snapped their 10-game winning streak and handed the Flames a stunning upset.

Despite outscoring the Flames in the third quarter, Bendigo couldn’t withstand Sydney’s blistering start and sustained pressure throughout the match. Star performer Unique Thompson torched the Spirit with a season-high32 points, 10 rebounds, and relentless ball movement.  For the Spirit, Izzy Borlase produced another season-high at the other end of the court – with 32 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal – but it wasn’t enough to overcome the red-hot flames.

The Southside Melbourne Flyers, meanwhile, will bring strong momentum to Ballarat after dismantling Geelong Venom 94-52 on Saturday, to notch their third consecutive win. They flexed both offensive and defensive clarity, holding Geelong to just six first-quarter points, dominating the paint, and converting with near-perfect efficiency, shooting over 51% from three and 64% inside the arc. Standouts in that performance included Haley Peters with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, Cayla George's all-court presence, and Maddy Rocci’s orchestration.

When these teams met earlier this season, the Spirit triumphed in both encounters: a 75-67 win in Round 8 and a 70-60 result in Round 10 – both on the Flyers’ home court.  Bendigo has claimed each of their last two head-to-head matches, leaning on solid defence and critical performances from Borlase, co-captain Kelsey Griffin, and strong bench contributions.

Bendigo will be looking to reset the defensive intensity that allowed Sydney to score 53 points in the first half, while the Flyers aim to replicate their fluid ball movement and perimeter efficiency from the Geelong game. These contrasting forms set the stage for a high-stakes showdown: will the Spirit close the gap and reassert dominance, or will the confidence of the Flyers continue to build?

Tip-off is scheduled for tomorrow night in Ballarat, in what will be the Spirit’s final ‘home away from home’ game for the current WNBL season.  

Don’t miss another thrilling chapter in this season's battles between two fierce Victorian rivals.