It was a loss with the potential to mentally scar a team for weeks.
But Canberra forward Brigitte Ardossi insists the Capitals can bounce back immediately from Sunday's devastating fadeout against Bendigo and keep its season alive against Logan tonight.
The Capitals led by eight points with less than two minutes left, but were left shattered when Spirit guard Kristi Harrower nailed a match-winning basket in the final seconds.
Veteran small forward Carly Wilson rated it one of the most heartbreaking defeats in her decorated 13-year WNBL career.
Now teetering at 7-10, the Capitals must win their last five games to be any chance of making the playoffs.
However, Ardossi is adamant it is not a fatal blow to Canberra's finals hopes, declaring they were their own worst enemy.
''It was obviously a heartbreaking loss, but we had ourselves in a situation to win so we reflect back on that game and we don't feel they beat us, we beat ourselves,'' Ardossi said.
''Everyone knows around finals time is when special basketball is played and anything can really happen.''
Provided there's no hangover from last week's fadeout, the Capitals will fancy their chances of rebounding against sixth-placed Logan.
Canberra easily accounted for the Queenslanders early in the season, even when their new group was yet to find its groove.
And Ardossi expects the Capitals to exploit the frustration that lingers from last week.
''We have to go out and jump on other people, and by no means is the fact we've already beaten Logan before in the back of our heads,'' she said.
Capitals small forward Michelle Cosier said the side had taken heart from testing top three outfit Bendigo until the death, despite not playing anywhere near its best basketball.
''It was disappointing, but we didn't play that great and only lost by a point,'' she said.
''We did make a lot of turnovers and we can't have that, we simply have to look after the ball. There's nothing we can do about that now, it's in the past and if we win our next five games we're still a chance [for finals].''
This reporter is on Twitter: @tuxy81
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