THE PERTH Lynx made it three wins on the trot over the weekend as they enacted their revenge on the Bendigo Spirit, handing them their first loss of the season. The Spirit, 9-0 through the opening seven rounds of the year, faced the Lynx in a top-of-the-table clash just two weeks ago and came out victorious, but the tables were flipped this time as Perth snuck home in a thriller. 

The visiting side came out hot to lead by six points after the first term, but in a vital second-quarter effort the Spirit managed to hold Perth to just 12 points and led by four going into the main break. In a low-scoring second half, where the two best sides in the competition scrapped and clawed for an advantage, Perth managed to wrestle back the lead and hold on in a wild finish.

Bendigo shot the ball more efficiently from the field (Perth going at just 25 per cent from deep and 68 per cent from the free-throw line where they have struggled almightily this season), but committed 13 turnovers and 20 fouls, sending the Lynx to the charity stripe for 25 attempts. 

Defensively, the Spirit blocked 10 shots, and offensively they outscored the visitors 34-26 in the paint, but they allowed 13 offensive rebounds and thus 10 second-chance points to just two of their own. Perth certainly capitalized on Bendigo’s mistakes in this game.

Marianna Tolo scored a team-high 16 points for the home side to go with four blocks, while they were also boosted by a huge double-double from Kelsey Griffin who finished with 10 points, five assists, and 17 rebounds. Veronica Burton also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, whilst MVP candidate Sami Whitcomb chipped in 14 points, two steals, and two blocks. 

Perth welcomed a big performance from Alex Wilson who nailed four long-range bombs on her way to a game-high 20 points, while skipper Anneli Maley stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, Laeticia Amihere, and Amy Atwell combined to total 34 points.

After dropping their first game of the season Bendigo went on to lose again on Sunday to the Southside Flyers, while the Lynx returned to Western Australia and comfortably dismissed Geelong United on Monday.

Perth never trailed in the game, winning every quarter and eventually downing the visiting side by 25 points. The Lynx finally shot the ball well from the free-throw line, and despite another poor shooting display from three-point range, dominated almost every other aspect of the game. 

The Lynx scored a whopping 50 points in the paint, and disturbingly for Geelong, scored 35 points off turnovers. 

In a credit to Perth’s team-oriented style of play, no player scored 20 points despite their huge offensive outburst. Atwell led the way in this one with 19 points, while Maley backed up her dominance from Thursday night, dropping 14 points, 14 rebounds, and two steals. Wilson also backed up her impressive Thursday outing by putting up 12 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Amihere (to go with seven rebounds, two steals, and three blocks), Teige Morrell, and Miela Sowah combined to add 35 points, while Alexandra Ciabattoni did a little of everything with four points, seven assists, three rebounds, four steals, and a block.

With the two wins added in Round Eight, Perth has moved equal on wins at the top of the table with nine, having played one more game than the first-placed Bendigo Spirit. 

The WNBL will take a few days’ hiatus over Christmas before returning on Friday 27th for Round Nine action. Perth will take on the UC Capitals on Sunday in their only game of the round.