Sirens Halt Spirit
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
The Christchurch Sirens have ended the Bendigo Spirit’s hopes of a historic finals berth in their first Australian Defence Force WNBL season following their physical 72-68 win at Cowles Stadium on Saturday night.
A 30-15 opening quarter blitz allowed the Sirens to establish a strong halftime lead but the Spirit dug deep in the third quarter to reel Christchurch back in but they fell agonizingly short in their ditch effort to qualify for the finals.
Dual Kiwi international Donna Wilkins scored a game high 24 points on 9-of-16 field shooting to go with eight rebounds with US import Lamisha Augustine, who sparked the Sirens electric start, adding 15 points as every other Siren got on the scoreboard except for Ashley Awkward.
Bendigo forward Karen Ashby posted a gallant 19 points while Gabrielle Richards (14 points, eight rebounds), Jenna O’Hea (13 points, nine rebounds) and Kathleen MacLeod (11 points, seven rebounds, 5 assists) all toiled hard.
Led by Augustine, the Sirens jumped out of the blocks and led 23-13 with 2:23 remaining in the first term before finishing 30-15 ahead.
The Sirens continued to stretch their lead in the second quarter, which they won 17-15, to hold a 47-30 halftime lead.
But armed with the small chance they could still make the finals in their first WNBL season the Spirit dug deep and after a grinding start to the second half exploded into action. Back-to-back triples form sharp shooter Lisa Pardon and solid inside work from Ashby and Richards saw the Spirit reduce the margin to 56-51 with 2:11 remaining in the third term.
An Aneka Kerr jumper saw the Sirens take a 60-53 three quarter time lead.
The final term turned into a physical slugfest with the Spirit slowly but surely getting on level terms with the home team and when Ashby dropped her second free throw Bendigo turned a 20 point deficit into a one point, 68-67 lead with 2:07 remaining.
But a Charmain Purcell jump shot and free throws from Noni Wharemate wrestled the lead back for the Sirens who went onto hold on 72-68 to claim their ninth win – all of which have been at home – for the season.
The Spirit’s final game this season is at home against Bulleen Melbourne next Saturday while the Sirens round out their season with the daunting doomsday double to Adelaide and Perth.
‘‘It’s actually very frustrating,’’ Harrower said. “One win in our last six games would have made all the difference.
“We put ourselves in such a good position to finish fourth, but we haven’t been able to get a win. Even more frustrating is that we haven’t played that badly.
“We just can’t win.”
‘‘We’ve been given yet another chance and all we can do is concentrate on winning our game and hope the other results fall our way.’’
‘‘We had a horror first quarter where Christchurch just ran us off our feet,’’ Harrower said.
‘‘Our second quarter was reasonable and then our third and fourth quarters were really good.
‘‘We gave ourselves a chance to win, but again a lack of experience cost us at the end.
‘‘We had some open looks, but our three-point shooting let us down.’’
Christchurch Sirens 72 (Donna Wilkins 24, Lamisha Augustine 15, Charmian Purcell 8) Bendigo Spirit 68 (Karen Ashby 19, Gabrielle Richards 14, Jenna O’Hea 13)
