IN FRONT of their home fans, the Perth Lynx were able to make HoopsFest a winner out west, claiming a thrilling four-point win over the Bendigo Spirit in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) on Thursday night.

The Lynx kicked off the HoopsFest round of play at RAC Arena on Thursday, with both the NBL and the WNBL descending on Perth for a bumper weekend of play. The Lynx’s match was a highly anticipated way to start the weekend, with Perth fans filling out RAC Arena for a blockbuster clash between their side and the Spirit.

Although Bendigo looked in the box seat midway through the match, the Lynx were able to snatch the win after a dominant second-half performance, thrilling fans at RAC Arena with a four-point triumph to move into second spot.

Perth Lynx (85) def. Bendigo Spirit (81)

The Spirit were absolutely deadly from behind the arc to open the match, unleashing a three-point barrage in the first quarter to post 30 points in 10 minutes. They drilled seven of their first 10 shots from long range and the Lynx were struggling to keep up on the offensive front, trailing by eight points at the first change.

The margin blew out to 13 points in the second frame, after Perth’s offensive struggles continued after quarter time. Then, it was a game of runs, as the Lynx dragged themselves back into the game with an 11-0 run, before the Spirit regained their breathing space with eight unanswered points to still lead 52-40 at the main break.

Just when the Lynx looked in trouble, Han Xu sparked the home side with a seven-point burst and a big block to inject some energy into a Perth outfit that truly needed a lift. Suddenly, the hosts had erased the deficit and tied up the match late in the third frame despite being on the back foot for the entirety of the first half, and at the final change, the Spirit’s lead was whittled down to three.

It was a see-sawing affair in the final frame, with Bendigo’s potential match-winning runs answered down the other end by Alex Wilson. The Lynx veteran’s shotmaking was the catalyst for Perth being able to overrun the Spirit in a tremendous comeback win that could be crucial for their top-two hopes in the coming months.

Wilson was the star of the show for the Lynx, with the 31-year-old steering the home side to victory with a damaging performance from downtown. She finished the match with 26 points on 6/9 shooting from behind the arc, to go with seven rebounds and three assists in a game-breaking performance in the final 10 minutes.

Xu was also impressive for the Lynx in the win, posting 14 points and 10 boards in a towering display, while skipper Anneli Maley was her usual reliable self with another double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds.

As per usual, Isobel Borlase led from the front for the Spirit, posting another stat-stuffing performance and finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Kelsey Rees (16 points) and Kelsey Griffin (15 points, 10 rebounds) were also strong.