Round 14 UC Capitals v Bendigo Spirit

Fresh off the back of the FIBA Break, the UC Capitals are gearing up to return to the court for Round 14 of the Cygnett WNBL, with a home game against the Bendigo Spirit and an away matchup with the Perth Lynx.

The Caps are making their return to Tuggeranong Stadium, the same venue where they secured their first win of the season against the Melbourne Boomers in Round 7.

Head coach, Kristen Veal, says the team has only positive memories from playing down south, and are feeling fresh coming into the last part of the season.

“Being back at Tuggeranong and what we drew on in that last game was just the history and the culture of the Caps in the Tuggeranong days. To get our first win there is pretty exciting and its fun to be back there,” Veal said.

The Spirit are currently sitting on the cusp of the top four and are looking to break through for a late finals berth.

Alex Wilson and Kelsey Griffin both had standout performances when they last met the Caps in the previous round, contributing 23 points each.

The top performers for the Caps in that match, each with a double-double, were Alex Sharp with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist, and Alex Fowler who put up 14 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.

Bendigo will also be hungry for the win on Thursday as veteran guard, Kelly Wilson, celebrates a milestone achievement as she becomes the first player to reach 450 WNBL games.

In their second match this round, the Caps hit the road and travel to Perth to take on the Lynx in their final away game of the season.

As the season end draws near, Japanese international, Monica Okoye, reflected on her first WNBL season and says her game has been taken to a whole new level.

“It’s a harder season, lots of pressure but this league is so high level and is a good experience. My communication has grown, and I’ve learnt new things,” Okoye said.

The record between the Caps and Lynx stands at one win each, with Canberra taking the most recent win in their first home game of the new year.

Perth import, Aari McDonald, has been out of action for the Lynx since late December after suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in her knee.

With an estimated recovery time of six weeks, McDonald’s return is impending and can’t come at a better time for Perth after losing their last five games saw them drop out of the top four.

The last time these two sides met, Sharp posted an incredible 25 points, 19 rebounds and 3 assists against her former side, followed by Jade Melbourne with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

Jade is back in the Caps camp this round after spending the FIBA Break in Belem, Brazil and helped the Australian Opals successfully qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The Aussies took a clean sweep of the tournament with wins over Brazil, Germany and Serbia. Across the three games Jade contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 40 minutes of play.

Doors open at 6pm for 7pm tip off against the Bendigo Spirit on Thursday 15^th at the National Convention Centre Canberra – Home to the UC Capitals.

The Caps game on Sunday 18^th February against the Perth Lynx will be broadcasted via 9Now from 7pm AEDT.