AFTER winning both of their games last weekend, hopes were high for the Perth Lynx as they each sought to push themselves towards top spot on the WNBL ladder. It wasn’t to be however as the Lynx dropped both games in Round 6 and now sit 6-3 on the season.

On Thursday night the Lynx took on the undefeated Bendigo Spirit in a top of the table blockbuster. The Spirit got out to the better start but found themselves well beaten by the home side in the second and third quarters, going down by six points heading into the final frame.

From the 8:30 mark in the fourth term Bendigo began an 18-6 run, capped off by a Veronica Burton triple that gave them a 70-63 advantage. Miela Sowah knocked down a trademark three with two minutes remaining to pull the Lynx back within four points, before Marianna Tolo answered with two free throws that iced the game for the visitors.

Sowah finished with 25 points, five assists and six rebounds for Perth, as she continues to impress in a breakout season, but the offensive output was few and far between for the Lynx – Laeticia Amihere the only other player to score in double figures as she added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Anneli Maley pulled down 15 rebounds to go with her eight points, while Alex Wilson contributed seven points and eight rebounds.

It was the Sami Whitcomb show again though for Bendigo, as the MVP candidate dropped a triple double, scoring 16 points to go with 10 assists and 13 rebounds. The league’s leading scorer was joined in double digits by Kelsey Griffin who put up 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Tolo and Casey Samuels also joined the party with 14 and 11 points respectively.

Perth out-rebounded the Spirit 47-41, and outscored them 14-2 on the fastbreak, but left six points at the free throw line, which would end up being the difference. Both teams struggled dramatically from beyond the arc, shooting 17 per cent, but the Lynx committed 17 turnovers to Bendigo’s nine.

Perth then travelled to Sydney to take on the Flames on Saturday, but once again came up short. The visiting side was unable to curb the influence of Sydney’s big names, as Cayla George posted 28 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, and Shaneice Swain added 20 points, five assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Emma Clarke and Carla Pitman also combined for 26 points and 13 rebounds.

The Flames scored 40 points in the paint and 17 points on the fastbreak, and despite both sides turning the ball over 22 times, Sydney outscored Perth from turnovers 32-13.

As has been the case all season long, the Lynx were abysmal from the free throw line. Across their two Round 6 games they made just 12 of 33 free throws, good enough for just 36 per cent. No team has shot the ball worse from the charity stripe this season as they fall to less than 63 per cent for the year. It is an inexplicable statistic for a contending outfit who leads the league in field goal percentage and is second in three point percentage.

Sowah again led Perth in scoring, but with just 13 points as the away team were beaten in every quarter. Maley double-doubled with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but there were no standout performances in this game.

Perth will return to Western Australia for Round 7, where they meet just one opponent, the UC Capitals on Thursday night. These two teams did battle in Round 3 and the Lynx scraped out a two-point comeback victory on the back of a big performance from Amihere.