Venom fall to 1-3 ahead of home double header

GEELONG have dropped to 1-3 after going down to Bendigo and Perth in the third week of the WNBL season.

The Venom took plenty of momentum into last Wednesday’s away clash with the Sprit, but a second quarter blitz from the home side saw them snatch a win.

After finishing the first quarter tied at 18, Bendigo piled on 22 points to Geelong’s 12 to take a 10-point lead into half time. They kept the Venom at bay for the remainder of the match, winning 62-55 at Red Energy Arena.

Geelong couldn’t get their three-point shot going, finishing the match at a miserable 5.9 per cent from behind the line.

Mackenzie Holmes continued her blistering form in her first year with the Venom, pouring in 30 points and 12 rebounds.

In a quick turnaround, Geelong then hosted Perth at the Geelong Arena on Saturday and fell agonizingly short, going down by one point in a thriller.

The clash was a see-sawing affair with 15 lead changes, with the Lynx prevailing to start their season 3-0 and the only remaining undefeated side.

A clutch shot from Venom captain Jaz Shelley got her side within one point with 14 seconds to play, before a shot by Holmes that would have won the game was painfully ruled after the buzzer.

Geelong will again play two matches in a week, looking to get their season back on track after falling to second last on the ladder.

They will face Townsville tomorrow (Friday, November 7) before getting another shot at the Lynx on Wednesday, November 11. Both games will be played at the Geelong Arena.