Being down all the motivation Amihere needs
Looking up at the scoreboard and seeing a double-digit deficit was all the motivation Laeticia Amihere needed to help fire up the Perth Lynx and she finished with 28 points in the win against the Sydney Flames.
The Lynx were back home at Bendat Basketball Centre on Saturday night on the back of two road victories against the Adelaide Lightning and the UC Capitals where Amihere continued to show how well she’s settling into the WNBL.
She produced 17 points and three rebounds against Adelaide and backed it up with 24 points and 10 boards against Canberra, and then put in her best performance of the season in the end against the Flames on Saturday night.
Amihere finished the night with 28 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals on the back of shooting 11/18 from the field to be instrumental in the eventual 84-78 victory.
However, the Lynx did find themselves trailing by as much as 12 points in the opening half and were still down 11 going into the half-time break.
That was all the motivation that the Canadian Olympian and Atlanta Dream WNBA star needed to help lead the Perth fight back and it worked as the Lynx outscored the Flames 41 points to 24 after half-time to improve to a 5-1 record on the season.
Speaking after the match and Amihere admitted to not needing any more motivation than simply looking up and seeing her team down on the scoreboard.
“Losing and being down gets you fired up better than anything so I just try to get my team some buckets and steals, and any extra possessions we can get,” Amihere said.
“I would just say looking up at the scoreboard and knowing my team needs me to be more aggressive is all the motivation I need to turn things up a little.”
A big reason why the Flames built that first half advantage was on the back of work down low of front court pair Cayla George and Mikaela Ruef, and even in spurts when Yemiyah Morris came on the floor.
Amihere will be giving up size to most bigs across the WNBL she comes up against most nights, but she doesn’t see that as a challenge, and more focuses on trying to make the most of the athletic advantage she will usually have.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a challenge, I think my team is great at having my back and our defence is one that we have each other’s back in every situation,” she said.
“So I wouldn’t call it a challenge against those sort of bigs, but it’s something we were able to do pretty well in the second half and I take any challenge that comes my way.”
While Amihere is capable of dunking the basketball and has been since she was 15 years of age, and while VenuesWest is offering some added incentive for her to do on game night, she herself isn’t sure if the opportunity will present.
Her hands were active defensively on Saturday night as she produced four steals and got out in the open floor on multiple occasions, but not once did she actually think about trying to throw it down much to coach Ryan Petrik’s relief.
“I didn’t think about trying for a dunk to be honest, I didn’t think it was time to do that,” Amihere said.
“It’s all about game management and knowing that my team needs me so I didn’t think it was the time to showboat at that specific moment.
“I could hear the crowd as soon as I got a steal and even yelling out in the free-throws, but I love that and the inspiration that these little girls are able to see in my game and the athleticism in my game so it’s just fun.”
Amihere is just five games into her WNBL career with the Lynx, but she’s already thriving now averaging 18.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.6 assists and 1.2 blocks a game while shooting at a stunning 62.9 per cent from the field.
She is also feeling more comfortable herself the more games she plays, and the more time she spends around her new team.
“It definitely has been an adjustment and I’m just trying to integrate myself into the system and integrate myself just by playing with these girls,” Amihere said.
“It’s been a blast so far so I’m hoping for us to get some more wins under our belt.”