It was a tough start to the WNBL season for Hunter basketballers.
Katie Ebzery top scored for Sydney Uni with 16, but the Flames still lost by 11 to the Lynx in Perth.
While Suzy Batkovic and the Townsville Fire got their title defence off to a shaky start.
Opening the season at home, the Fire was neck and neck with Bendigo through the first three quarters.
But the Spirit produced the goods when it counted.
Batkovic led the scoring for Townsville with 17, adding five rebounds and four steals.
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