Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Jade Melbourne’s return to Canberra has ended in devastation after she missed the game-winner in the UC Capitals’ enthralling 94-92 victory over the Bendigo Spirit.
The Opals star played her first match on Saturday since making the bombshell decision to leave the Capitals in the off-season, having spent the past six WNBL campaigns with the club.
The ex-captain was met with a chorus of cheers when she entered AIS Arena, however Melbourne silenced the crowd when she scored the opening points of the game.
But soon after, the 24-year-old found herself in a pickle as Canberra led by 19 points late in the second quarter before Bendigo flicked a switch and surged back into the lead.
With their backs against the wall, the Capitals went on a blistering 9-0 run, buoyed by some sharp shooting from point guard Meg McConnell (19 points, three assists) and Commonwealth Games 3×3 gold medallist Amy Atwell (26 points, seven rebounds, three assists) to put them in the box seat.
The Spirit refused to back down and Melbourne put up a last-gasp shot to win it, but it bounced off the rim.
“I genuinely thought that shot she took at the end of the game was going to drop. It looked straight as an arrow from my angle,” Bendigo coach Kennedy Kereama said.
“You could sort of hear the oxygen get sucked out of the building for a split second.”
For Bendigo, five-time league champion Marianna Tolo made a triumphant return from giving birth in May, posting 28 points, six rebounds and three steals despite receiving several boos at the free-throw line, which Kereama labelled as “uneducated”.
Ex-Canberra star Kelsey Griffin was prolific (22 points, nine rebounds) while Melbourne had nine points and 10 assists on a day when they were without reigning league MVP Izzy Borlase (WNBA finals).
Nyadiew Puoch helped inspire the Capitals to a flying start before the home team went on a late 10-2 run to balloon their advantage to 12 points at the first break.
Canberra continued to wreak havoc with their slick ball movement and sharp shooting to lead 52-37 at halftime.
The Spirit found a new gear after the main break as their experienced captains, Griffin and Tolo, stepped up to close the gap down to five.
Griffin sank eight fourth-quarter points to help the visitors take the lead, before Canberra exploded into life.
But just as the Capitals looked set for victory, Griffin nailed a triple with 16.7 seconds left before Melbourne missed and Canberra claimed the win.
“From the beginning, we’ve probably been overlooked and haven’t been on people’s radars,” McConnell said.
“But if people are going to keep doubting us, we’re going to show them what we’re about.”
