Spectres Battle Through ANZAC Round Split

The Nunawading Spectres women fought through an intense ANZAC Round double-header, splitting their matchups with a dominant win over Melbourne before falling agonizingly short in an overtime thriller against Eltham.

Thursday night's ANZAC Eve clash saw the Spectres take down the Melbourne Tigers 95-79 in a gripping contest at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. After a hot start by Melbourne, fuelled by the shooting of Indiah Bowyer, the Spectres turned the tide with relentless defensive pressure. That energy stifled the Tigers' star-studded lineup, featuring Australian Opals Sara Blicavs and Isobel Borlase, allowing Nunawading to take control.

Laina Snyder delivered a masterclass, posting a triple-double (26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) and earning the ANZAC Medal for her efforts. Rachel Antoniadou flirted with her own triple-double, contributing 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Faith Dut and Rachel Brewster were also pivotal — each delivering strong double-digit scoring performances.

The momentum carried into ANZAC Day back on home court at The Graveyard, but fatigue and a fired-up Eltham Wildcats outfit proved a tough hurdle.

Despite trailing by double digits at halftime, the Spectres showed immense grit, storming back behind a stifling defensive effort to hold Eltham to just six points in the third quarter. Nunawading took the lead into the final frame and looked poised to steal the win before a heartbreaking turnover led to Eltham forcing overtime. In a gritty, low-scoring extra period, the Wildcats claimed a 77-76 victory.

Antoniadou once again led from the front with 17 points, while Brewster recorded a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds). Laina Snyder was a force inside with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists, but the late turnovers proved costly.

After four rounds, the Spectres women sit in a strong position early in the season, showing they can match it with the best. With continued improvements and resilience, this group is building something special.