Sprit drop season opener

BENDIGO Sprit have lost on the road to Southside Flyers in their WNBL season opener at Dandenong Stadium.

The Sprit were on the bad side of a 94-83 result to the defending champions.

Southside took control by outscoring the new look Bendigo squad 25-15 in the second quarter.

“I’m really happy with the way we played,” Flyers’ coach Cheryl Chambers said.

“We knew it was going to be up and down all day because we haven’t played too much, but we need to look after the ball a little bit better and we will be in good shape.”

Sprit new recruit Anneli Maley tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds, while local product Tessa Lavey had 15 points in her more than 33 minutes of game time.

Up next Bendigo have a home and home against the Melbourne Boomers on 8 and 19 December.

In other WNBL games University of Canberra Capitals captain Kelsey Griffin showed her warrior spirit and together with an auspicious debut for Brittney Sykes, provided the offence to deny Shane Heal a successful return to the comp

The Caps overturned a nine-point point half-time deficit to beat the Sydney University Flames 58-55 Flames at Qudos Bank Arena.

The Flyers showed they still had plenty in their offensive arsenal despite Opals’ superstar centre Liz Cambage not returning.

Sara Blicavs had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Rebecca Cole dropped 24 points and Abby Bishop was strong with 20 posts and 11 boards on her return to the WNBL, made sure their team prospered after they trailed 15-9 early.

Heal’s daughter Shyla was one of the Flames major off-season recruits, but she like most of the other players struggled offensively, with both teams making just 28 per cent of their first-half field goals.

It only got worse in the second half for the Flames, who finished on 26 per cent for the game, while Griffin and Sykes sparked the Caps offence.

Griffin scored their first seven points off the second half, but was forced off the court with just over a minute left, with blood streaming from her face after she was accidentally struck.

Jade Melbourne hit a three-pointer with just over six minutes left to give the Caps a lead they never relinquished.

LA Sparks guard Sykes, a 2021 WNBA all-defensive first team player, steadied the Caps down the stretch by scoring eight of her 16 points in the final quarter.

– BY ADRIAN WARREN/ AAP