That's the Spirit: Griffin and Bendigo unleash on Venom

• Bendigo overpower Geelong 93–58 in dominant wire-to-wire WNBL26 win.
• Griffin delivers vintage 19-point double-double with elite defence.
• Borlase, McConnell and Rees drive Spirit’s balanced scoring punch.
• Holmes shines for Geelong with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Defending champions Bendigo Spirit produced one of its most complete performances of the WNBL26 season, overpowering Geelong Venom 93–58 in a dominant wire-to-wire display.

After an even opening stretch featuring 14 lead changes, the Spirit tightened the screws defensively and blew the game open with a crushing 20–7 second quarter, turning a five-point first-term edge into a commanding halftime lead.

From there, Bendigo never looked back. Their ball movement, rebounding control (50–36), and inside finishing overwhelmed the Venom, while their depth ensured the margin kept growing in the second half.

Spirit Standouts

• Kelsey Griffin delivered a vintage all-around masterpiece: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals, shooting an extraordinary 8-for-9 from the field.
• Isobel Borlase continued her breakout season with 19 points, 4 assists and relentless rim pressure.
• Megan McConnell filled every column: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, shooting efficiently from everywhere.
• Kelsey Rees added a strong interior presence with 14 points, 11 boards and 2 threes.

Bendigo’s starters combined for 69 points, and the bench provided valuable two-way punch, highlighted by Georgia Booth (9 points) and Olivia Pollerd (10 points).

Key Details

• Result: Bendigo Spirit 93 def. Geelong Venom 58
• When: Thursday, 5th December 2025
• Where: Selkirk Stadium, Bendigo
• Attendance: 292
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo Spirit) starred with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, five steals and one block in 26 minutes.
• Mackenzie Holmes (Geelong Venom) scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Spirit established their dominance early, taking a 25-20 first quarter lead before completely taking control in the second period. Bendigo outscored Geelong by a devastating 13 points in the second quarter, 20-7, to build a commanding 45-27 halftime advantage. The home side maintained their momentum through the third quarter, extending their lead to 69-44, before closing out with a 24-14 final period to secure the comprehensive victory.

Griffin's exceptional all-around performance anchored Bendigo's success, shooting an outstanding 8-from-9 from two-point range and adding crucial defensive contributions. Isobel Borlase matched Griffin's scoring output with 19 points on efficient 8-from-13 shooting from the field, while Megan McConnell contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. The Spirit's balanced attack featured four players reaching double figures, demonstrating their depth and team-first mentality.

For Geelong, Holmes provided the lone bright spot offensively, shooting 9-from-14 from the field and dominating the paint with 13 boards. However, the Venom struggled to find consistent scoring elsewhere, with no other player reaching double digits. Shyla Heal and Jazmin Shelley managed just six and eight points respectively, as Geelong's offense sputtered throughout the contest.

The Spirit's superior shooting proved decisive in the lopsided affair. Bendigo connected on an impressive 59% from the field compared to Geelong's poor 40% shooting. From beyond the arc, the difference was even more pronounced - the Spirit knocked down 11 three-pointers at a solid 41% clip, while the Venom managed just three triples on a dismal 12% shooting from downtown.

Defensively, Bendigo's pressure forced Geelong into difficult shots and limited their offensive flow. The Spirit's eight steals compared to Geelong's seven blocks highlighted their active hands and ability to create transition opportunities. Bendigo's dominance on the boards was equally impressive, out-rebounding their opponents 50-36 to control second-chance scoring opportunities.