IN ONE of the most anticipated matchups of the 2025/26 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), the Perth Lynx got the job done in their clash against the Bendigo Spirit when the two sides locked horns over the weekend.

Both teams have started the 2025/26 fixture in strong fashion, with the reigning champion Spirit starting their title defence in ideal fashion by winning three of their first four games, while on the other hand, the Lynx held a record of 4-2 and also boasted hosting rights at Perth High Performance Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The Lynx managed to break the game open with a dominant third quarter, storming away on the scoreboard and holding on for a 15-point win on their home turf to move to second spot in the standings with a strong record.

Perth Lynx (79) def. Perth Lynx (65)

The Lynx were looking to bounce back following a 19-point loss at the hands of the Geelong Venom on Tuesday night, and were given a fair challenge by the Spirit, particularly in the first half where the two sides traded buckets in some terrific back and forth action.

At the main break, it was the home side who led by three points and it was shaping as a clash that could go either way, as Bendigo was showing plenty of scoring punch when it was able to get on some sort of a run, which was pushing the Lynx.

However, the game burst open in the third frame, as the Lynx completely snatched the momentum and ended up deciding the game coming out of half-time. Alexandra Ciabattoni and Brianna Turner played crucial roles as the Lynx broke the game open with a 28-15 blitz to push their lead out to double-digits and ignite the crowd.

From there, Perth never looked back, trading baskets with the Spirit in the final frame and answering every charge the visitors made to try and get back into the contest. It was a better effort from Bendigo than the third period, but it was not enough to undo the damage, as the Lynx cruised home to a comfortable win.

Skipper Amy Atwell was the star of the show for the Lynx, leading the way with an impressive 21 points on 7/13 shooting from the field and 4/6 shooting from behind the arc in a true captain’s performance that inspired her team. She also posted six rebounds, three assists and three steals to be the best player on the floor.

Also impressing for the Lynx was Anneli Maley, who had another towering double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds, controlling the skies and consistently proving a problem for Bendigo’s frontcourt. Ciabattoni nailed four triples on five attempts to finish with 16 points, while Turner had 12 points of her own as Perth’s starters hit form.

For the Spirit, star recruit Isobel Borlase tried hard to get her team going, but could not carry Bendigo on her own. She finished with 14 points and five rebounds and can hold her head high after a tough afternoon at the office.