PERTH Lynx flexed their muscles on Sunday afternoon as they brushed aside Geelong Venom by 28 points in Perth. The third placed Lynx kept in touch with Bendigo Spirit and Townsville Fire at the top of the table, winning all four quarters including two by double-digit points in a 106-78 thrashing at Perth High Performance Centre.

Perth Lynx (106) def. Geelong Venom (78)

From start to finish it was a clinical performance from the Lynx who put up 60 points to 38 in the first half, blasting away to a 12-point lead at quarter time, and had built up an unassailable 22-point advantage by the main break.

They did not let up in the second half either, determined to get the win, while also heavily rotating their bench players. In the end, they four players off their bench play more than 10 minutes, including a couple with more than 15 minutes, while everyone played under 30 and all 12 players took to the court.

Despite the Venom able to fight back a little in the second half, still lost each quarter, going down 46-40 in the second half to make it an overall loss of 106-78. The top-end strength and size of the Lynx really worried the Venom, as they had 17 more rebounds (51-34) and eight more assists (27-19), while nailing 16 of 36 from long-range (44.4 per cent) compared to Geelong’s six of 30 (20 per cent) from the same distance.

Leading the way was double-double machine and Perth skipper Anneli Maley, whose 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists saw her narrowly fall short of a triple-double in just 26 minutes. She was well-supported by 212cm towering Chinese center Han Xu, who recorded 22 points – including one successful attempt from three-point range and eight of 11 from inside the arc – as well as five rebounds and two assists.

Amy Atwell produced some brilliant shooting from across the court, nailing five of nine from long-range, as part of nine from 14 overall. Meanwhile veteran Alex Wilson chipped in with 14 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win. Steph Gorman (six points, four assists and three rebounds) off the bench was handy all-round.

Too much of the work for the Venom was left up to star shooters Mackenzie Holmes and Shyla Heal who put up a combined 54 of their side’s 78 points in the loss. Holmes was best on by a mile with 34 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while Heal shot 20 points and had four assists. Elissa Brett (seven points, eight rebounds and two assists) tried hard, while Jazmin Shelley only hit one of nine from the field, but did record five rebounds and six assists.

Perth Lynx next front up on January 2, remaining at home to welcome the Adelaide Lightning to Perth High Performance Centre, while Geelong Venom meet fellow Victorian side Southside Melbourne Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on January 3.