Lynx get the job done in Geelong
The Perth Lynx had to battle hard all afternoon but got the win they needed on the road to Geelong United prevailing 80-77 to make it six straight wins and to set up a battle over top WNBL spot with the Bendigo Spirit.
The Lynx made it six wins on the trot with Sunday afternoon’s three-point triumph in their first ever game at The Geelong Arena against United with that improving them to a 12-3 record with the chance to grab top spot with a win in Bendigo on Wednesday night.
Where the game was won
The Lynx did well to be leading by five points at quarter-time after the last seven points but by half-time it was just a one-point lead with them shooting only 37 per cent from the field while United were going at just 38.
Perth had scored 13 points off the nine Geelong turnovers but the Lynx had 13 turnovers themselves from which United scored 17 points.
Both teams aimed to tidy things up and find some offensive groove in the second half and while the Lynx led by 11 early in the third quarter, and then still by seven with 30 seconds to go, they could never quite shake Geelong.
Perth ended up holding on for the three-point win while only ending up shooting 36 per cent from the field with 10/31 from three and having 20 turnovers.
However, what the Lynx did well was go 22/25 at the foul line, pull down 17 offensive rebounds for 13 second chance points and to score 19 points from Geelong’s 15 turnovers.
Who the standout performers were
Once again it was a team effort from the Lynx with seven players scoring at least six points, and eight players out there for at least 10 minutes.
Co-captain Amy Atwell came into the starting line-up for the first time this season with the Lynx and delivered 22 points and three rebounds with 4/9 shooting from three-point territory.
Fellow co-captain Anneli Maley also delivered 11 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals with Miela Sowah contributing 14 points and two boards, Laeticia Amihere 12 points and 13 rebounds, Ally Wilson eight points, two assists and two steals, Alex Ciabattoni seven points, four rebounds three assists, and Steph Gorman six points and four boards.
Former Lynx forward, and NBL1 West MVP and championship captain, Alex Sharp finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Geelong with Jaz Shelley adding 16 points and five boards, Haley Jones 13 points and six rebounds, and Elissa Brett 13 points and seven boards.
How the game panned out
Geelong were on their home floor and scored the game’s first four points before Perth responded with the next five points from Anneli Maley and Amy Atwell, and then were leading 11-8 after a four-point play courtesy of Atwell.
Miela Sowah then also hit a three-pointer and the Lynx closed out the first quarter with the last seven points courtesy of Alex Ciabattoni, Sowah and Steph Gorman to go into quarter-time leading 23-18.
Despite early three-pointers from Sowah and Gorman to open the second quarter, Geelong did well to stay in the contest and with the Lynx shooting just 37 per cent for the half to United’s 38, it remained a tight affair with Perth only up 38-37 at the break.
The Lynx made a strong start to the second half going on a 14-4 run including a three to Maley and then four consecutive points to Ally Wilson to see the lead grow to as much as 11 points.
Perth were still leading on the back of that by seven points at three quarter-time but United made a hot start to the final term with the opening six points in less than 70 seconds to suddenly make it a one-point ball game.
The Lynx answered with the next five points from Atwell and Sowah and they were able to push their advantage back out to eight with a three-point play from Sowah, and then by nine on the back of six consecutive points.
Perth were still seven up after two free throws from Wilson with 30 seconds to play, but back-to-back three balls to Geelong from Jaz Shelley and Gemma Potter saw it become a one-point game out of nowhere.
Atwell was sent to the line with eight seconds to go and made both for the Lynx and then Elissa Brett missed her attempt to force overtime as Perth held on for the sixth straight victory.
What’s next for the Lynx
The Lynx now remain in Victoria and head to Bendigo ahead of Wednesday night’s blockbuster contest with the Spirit where top spot in the WNBL goes on the line.
From there the Lynx are back home for the third and final home game at the Perth High Performance Centre next Saturday night in a Grand Final rematch against the Southside Flyers.
CYGNETT WNBL SEASON 2024/25
PERTH LYNX 80 (Atwell 22, Sowah 14, Amihere 12)
GEELONG UNITED 77 (Shelley 16, Sharp 16, Jones 13, Brett 13)