Coach K: 'Lauren, you have our best wishes':

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WNBL championship coach and now commentator Lori Chizik said it best "Bendigo are legit" but the defending champions 73-61 Round 11 WNBL26 win on New Year's Eve against the Townsville Fire quickly turned to the health of Lauren Cox.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Cox went down with a left knee injury with 1:05 minutes to go with the Fire trailing 22-13. Cox was trying to secure an offensive rebound.

The Townsville fans watched in silence as Cox, 27, lay under the basket as Fire staff went to her aid before chairing her off and back to the change room.

Spirit head coach Kennedy Kereama first thought post game wasn't about the 12-point win but for Cox.

"I actually just want to start first and foremost by wishing Lauren all the best," he said.

"I mean, that’s horrific to see anyone have an injury in game and, you know, obviously we at the Spirit, the best wishes.

"That’s not the outcome or an outcome we wanted for anybody in this game at any time. So, Lauren, you have our best wishes and yeah, we’re going to hope for the absolute best outcome given the situation, although it looks obviously horrible.

"As far as the game goes, there’s no easy game coming to Townsville.

"It’s probably the toughest place to come and get wins, and I know I say that as someone who’s just come off a win, and I know we’ve had a fairly reasonable track record at this place. But just again playing, Shannon has that team playing really well, and they’re a well-oiled machine.

"They run their stuff very well, and they’re very disciplined."

Fire head coach Shannon Seebohm wasn't sure of the extent of Cox's injury in the post game press conference but said she had gone to hospital.

"I don’t honestly really know," he said.

"She didn’t look in a good way, but I haven’t even seen the doc or anyone on our medical team to be honest. I was worried about the game, obviously it didn’t look good.

"The way she went down, when people grab their knee like that, it’s usually not going to be something great. So we’ll have to wait and see. She’s gone off to the hospital.

"I think she’ll probably get a scan and we’ll know a bit more in the next day or so.

"But hopefully Lauren is okay. You never want to see anyone go down like that and she’s obviously a really important part of our team. So we’ll see what happens, but I’d imagine we’ll be spending the next little bit of time without her most likely.

"It’s a big loss in a lot of ways. You know, defensively she provides smarts. She’s one of our most experienced players, obviously understands what we’re doing and what needs to be done for us to be able to win.

"So it’s going to be big, a big hole to fill. Obviously we’re going to be lacking some size now, so we’re just going to figure out what that means and how we counteract that. But for now it’s next person up, and as I said we’ll see what she’s like in a couple of days and what that actually means for the remainder of the year."

Cox's injury overshadowed what was shaping to be a dominant win by the Bendigo Spirit. The defending champs jumped out the the blocks early and led for all about a minute.

It was Bendigo's fifth straight win in Townsville and with top spot heading into 2026.

The Spirit has gone two games clear at the top of the ladder at 13-2 while the Fire dropped to equal second at 11-3 with the Perth Lynx.

Key Details

• Result: Bendigo Spirit 73 def. Townsville Fire 59
• When: Tuesday, 31st December 2025
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Megan McConnell (Bendigo Spirit) starred with 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists in 35 minutes.
• Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire) scored 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.

What Happened

The Spirit established early control, taking a 22-14 advantage after the opening quarter and never relinquishing their lead. Bendigo maintained their eight-point margin through the second period, heading into the main break with a 44-30 advantage. The visitors continued to apply pressure in the third quarter, extending their lead to 64-46 before closing out the contest despite a spirited fourth-quarter fightback from the Fire.

Megan McConnell's exceptional shooting display proved decisive for the Spirit, as she connected on four-of-eight two-point attempts and three-of-five from downtown. Her 50% field goal efficiency and 60% three-point shooting anchored Bendigo's offensive attack, while her seven assists demonstrated her playmaking ability throughout the contest.

The Spirit's dominance from beyond the arc was the defining factor in their victory. Bendigo shot an outstanding 54% from three-point range, connecting on 13-of-24 attempts, while Townsville managed just 30% from deep on nine-of-30 shooting. Kelsey Rees provided valuable support off the bench with 16 points, including three-of-four from downtown, while Kelsey Griffin contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double performance.

Defensively, Bendigo controlled the boards with a 43-38 rebounding advantage, led by Griffin's 10 defensive rebounds. The Spirit also moved the ball effectively with 18 assists compared to Townsville's 15, though they struggled to control possession with 17 turnovers to the Fire's seven.

For the Fire, Miela Sowah provided the primary offensive threat with her 16-point effort, shooting an efficient 57% from two-point range. Alexandra Fowler added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Lucy Olsen contributed nine points with three triples from five attempts. However, the home side's poor shooting from close range proved costly, as they managed just 28% from two-point range compared to Bendigo's 46%.