THERE is one less undefeated side in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) for season 2023/24, after Mercedes Russell led the Southside Flyers to a thrilling two-point win over Perth Lynx.

Coming into the game, the Lynx were sitting nicely at the top of the table with a record of three wins and zero losses. Not only that, Perth was playing an exciting brand of high-tempo basketball that was outplaying the opposition over the span of four quarters. While Southside had been chugging along nicely, the team was sitting mid-table and had not been able to consistently put together a winning streak to start the season.

The game was full of ebbs and flows, with plenty of momentum swings as both sides look to break the game open with a run. In the end, a Rebecca Cole three-pointer gave the Flyers the lead with just 20 seconds to play, which was the match-winning basket. The defining factor proved Southside’s accuracy on the night, with the Flyers making 51.4 per cent of their shots, in comparison to Perth’s 43 per cent, which is still a solid outing, but not good enough in this match.

While it was a solid performance from a team perspective, Russell was the best on the night, showcasing her class and versatile skillset.

Southside Flyers (94) def. Perth Lynx (92)

Mercedes Russell – 19 points, nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, two blocks

Russell was the standout on an excellent night from a Flyers perspective, working extremely hard on both ends of the floor to make an impact.

The forward made a damaging combination with star veteran Lauren Jackson, as the pair caused problems for Perth both offensively and defensively.

Russell finished the match with a team-high 19 points on an extremely accurate 8/11 shooting from the field. Playing to her strengths, she looked to generate scores inside and find space as close to the basket as possible, where she would consistently finish with a lay-up.

Her rebounding was also impressive, but it is a factor of her game that has become just as consistent as her scoring. While she did not reach the highs of her 17-rebound performance last time out, Russell still pulled down an impressive nine boards for the match, with most coming on the defensive end.

Speaking of defence, she was as active as anyone when the opposition had the ball, intercepting passes and swatting opposition shots as she pleased, and given the close nature of the game in the end, these plays had a huge say on the result of the match.

It was a seriously important performance from Russell, who led her side to victory with another towering performance on both ends of the floor.