No Griffin, no worries: Canberra Capitals post 10-point win over Bendigo Spirit

If there was any doubt, Keely Froling put it to bed when she posted a career-high 30 points in the Capitals' 76-66 win over the Bendigo Spirit at the National Convention Centre on Saturday.

The combination of Froling and French point-guard Olivia Epoupa filled the void left by co-captain Kelsey Griffin, who has been sidelined for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.

Griffin has taken 26.5 per cent of the Capitals' rebounds so far this season and has compiled the second-most points with 183.

Canberra coach Paul Goriss knew his players would have to step up without Griffin, whether it be in scoring, rebounds or ball pressure.

As it turned out, no Griffin, no worries.

Epoupa, the shortest player in the team, answered the call with 10 defensive and two offensive rebounds while Marianna Tolo took nine of her own. But it was 23-year-old Froling who stood tall when the game was on the line.

The Capitals forward went on a nine-point streak in the second quarter, going on to post a game high of 30 and 10 rebounds.

"You've got to be happy with that, so I'm really happy," Froling said.

"It's about taking the opportunities when they come. I was really focused coming into this game, I think I knew I had to step up.

"For me, it was more on the rebounding end and then the score just came with it. I missed a few chippies, so I was like 'dang' and a few foul shots. We'll work on that for next week."

The Capitals survived a third-quarter scare when Bendigo scored 12 unanswered points, with the hosts missing seven shots and losing three turnovers.

The visitors piled on the biggest scoring run of the match with 14 points and momentarily overtook Canberra's lead.

Tolo stood tall and broke their scoring drought with a two-point jump shot made in the fifth minute, for Froling to then equalise the score in the next attacking phase.

"There's going to be growing pains with how we go without Kelsey because she's played such a big part," Goriss said.

"We had a lot of runs but then turned the ball over two or three times in a row and gave Bendigo possession.

"Bendigo had 19 points scored off turnovers and that's unacceptable. We have to find a way in, keep flowing through our offence, keep the ball in people's hands and try not to force too much.

"I think the fourth quarter showed what we can build on to move forward for next week."

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The Capitals went into the final term with a tight seven-point lead, ready to pile points on the dungeon dwellers.

Nurse came alive with two consecutive three-pointers, laying the foundation for the Capitals' run home.

Canberra will be looking to ride the momentum of their home-court victory when they undertake one of the toughest road trips of the league next week.

The Capitals will head to South Australia to face the fourth-placed Adelaide Lightning on Friday, before crossing the continent to play the Perth Lynx next Sunday.

"We'll play some small ball and see how we work with that, not just from a defence perspective but offensively what it looks like with smaller players in different positions," Goriss said.

"I was happy with it because [Bendigo's] Gabrielle Richards is a big, powerful centre and we're going to get that next week.

"It'll be different with Adelaide because they have Brianna Turner who is more of an athletic player who plays with more finesse and athleticism.

"We'll come against [Imani] McGee-Stafford in Perth which will be another test for us.

"If we can keep Tolo out of foul trouble that certainly helps but at times we'll have to play small ball and a little bit differently."

AT A GLANCE

WNBL round 10: CANBERRA CAPITALS 76 (Froling 30, Nurse 16, Tolo 13 points) bt BENDIGO SPIRIT 66 (Skinner 15, Wehrung 13, Lavey 9 points)