THE PERTH Lynx were defeated at the hands of the Adelaide Lightning on Saturday as they continue to cling to second spot on the WNBL ladder by the barest of margins.

Perth has controlled second spot all season, but in recent weeks has dropped multiple games while the Townsville Fire have surged closer. The Fire came within a single win of the Lynx after Round 14 in which they beat the Southside Flyers and the Lynx went down to Adelaide. Perth now sits precariously with a blockbuster clash with Townsville coming in the final game of the season, which could well decide second spot at the eleventh hour.

The Lynx dropped to a 13-point deficit after one quarter as Isabelle Bourne got off to a hot start, scoring seven individual points before Perth as a side could reach four points. Bourne ended the first term with eight points, while Stephanie Talbot added five points to their total. 

The visiting side cut into the lead in the second period, as Amy Atwell posted six points and Miela Sowah knocked down her second three for the game, the 100^th of her career. Anneli Maley also added seven points in the quarter after knocking down two long distance hits. 

It was Perth again who won the third term, despite a low scoring effort from both teams to trim the lead back to just four points going into the final break. The home side took control in the fourth however, outscoring the Lynx by 14 points to eventually run home 18-point winners. 

Talbot and Bourne led the way for Adelaide, each adding 21 points and combining for 14 rebounds. Japreece Dean contributed 16 points and nailed all three of her shots from distance, but it was Brianna Turner who stuffed the stat sheet for the Lightning, posting a nine-point, eight-assist, 15-rebound and five-block performance, anchoring the defence for her side but contributing effectively on both ends of the floor.

Adelaide shot the ball far better than Perth and scored 44 points in the paint. The Lightning were heavily outrebounded, and got just 12 points from their bench, but scored 18 second chance points en route to victory.

For Perth, Maley had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Laeticia Amihere, who was recently cut by the Atlanta Dream and likely had other things on her mind, battled through the adversity to post an impressive 11-point, seven-rebound and six-steal statline.

Atwell, though inefficient, led the Lynx in scoring with 18 points, while Sowah added 12 points and seven rebounds. Perth made a change to the starting lineup in this game, with Steph Gorman inserted into the first five on the floor, but was scoreless in her 15 minutes, missing the only shot attempt she took.

All sides will play a single game in the penultimate Round 15 besides Bendigo, who has the bye, with Perth heading home to host Geelong United on Friday and Adelaide kicking off the round against Townsville on Wednesday afternoon.

A Townsville win over Adelaide would set the league up for a regular season that takes until the final game to set the ladder positions heading into finals, where Perth will clash with the Fire in a winner-takes-second-spot battle. The WNBL is heating up big time, and with two thrilling rounds to come, it doesn’t get much more exciting than this.