Bendigo edge Townsville to win WNBL title If it was Kristi Harrower's swansong, then Bendigo produced the fairytale ending as they trumped fellow maiden WNBL basketball grand finalist Townsville 71-57 at Bendigo Stadium on Sunday. The Spirit underlined their status as the league's premier defensive outfit by holding Townsville to a 35 per cent shooting success rate. Townsville, who were coming off successive finals away wins at Adelaide and Dandenong, also scrapped hard defensively, but couldn't reproduce the execution and energy of those upset victories. In the lead up to the game, 38-year-old point guard Harrower was frequently asked whether she would be ending a career that has gleaned four Olympic and two world championship medals. Harrower, who tallied 11 points, five rebounds and five assists on Sunday said in her post-match television interview she hadn't given any thought to retirement. "I did get a bit emotional before the game, but I'm just going to enjoy this celebration and take some time out and think about what I'm going to do," Harrower told ABC television. Grand final MVP Kelsey Griffin, who starred with 20 points and 11 rebounds, looked as if she might have inadvertently let the cat out of the bag regarding Harrower's intentions in her post-match interview. "To be able to send Kristi out this way, it means the world to me," said Griffin, a mid-season addition to the Spirit roster. Attached to American WNBA club Connecticut, Griffin said she would love to return to Bendigo. Together with centre Gabrielle Richards, who capped off a grand personal campaign with 20 points and eight boards, she gave Bendigo the offensive and rebounding firepower Townsville lacked. Harrower and Canadian Chelsea Aubry each added 11 points and the Spirit enjoyed a 38-27 advantage on the boards. Jess Foley, who was playing her final game for Townsville before starting medical studies, also scored 11, but Townsville had no other double-digit scorers. "To even make it here has been an absolute adventure and I'm so proud that we were able to do this," Fire captain and guard Rachael Flanagan said at the post-match presentation.