BIBBY FIRES AS LYNX THUMP LIGHTNING
The Perth Lynx put on a blistering performance after a slow start on the road on Thursday night to end up beating the Adelaide Lightning 108-82 with Chloe Bibby starring with 29 points and knocking down seven three-pointers.
Where the game was won
The Lynx knew it was a game they couldn’t afford to drop to stay in the playoff hunt, but that didn’t mean the Lightning were interested in making it easy especially on their home floor.
Adelaide did start strongly leading 18-6 and still being up seven at quarter-time, but the Lynx turned the tide by putting up 34 points in the second quarter including four three-pointers from Chloe Bibby to take a lead into the main break.
The Lynx pushed that lead out to double-figures by three quarter-time and then dominated the fourth with 25 points to just nine to end up winning by 26 points.
The Lynx ended up outrebounding the Lightning 49 to 34 while shooting 53 per cent from the floor to 39 and knocking down 11/26 from three-point territory to 7/25.
The win improves the Lynx to a 10-7 record on the season to remain hot on the heels of the fourth placed Bendigo Spirit who sit fourth at 11-7.
Who the star performers were
Chloe Bibby was right back to her best for the Lynx and was back into the starting line-up for Thursday night’s game. She responded by hitting 7/9 from three-point territory and put up 29 points to be the game’s leading scorer.
Lauren Scherf had another strong all-round performance too for the Lynx with 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal while shooting 9/11 from the field.
Captain Sami Whitcomb added 15 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals with Robbi Ryan finishing with 14 points and five rebounds, and Amy Atwell 11 points and six boards.
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard contributed nine points and two steals with Alex Sharp adding seven points and 11 rebounds, and Tayah Burrows five points, three assists and two rebounds.
Marena Whittle top-scored for the Lightning with 23 points while Steph Talbot finished with 18 points and six assists but she did have 15 of those points up to half-time.
How the game panned out
Amy Atwell scored the first basket of the game but the Lightning soon took over on their home floor with 12 of the next 14 points to grab an early 12-4 advantage.
Robbi Ryan scored a steadying bucket for Perth but Adelaide kept going with the next six to lead 18-6 and the Lynx needed to respond.
They were able to do exactly that to close the first quarter with a 12-7 run to at least cut the Lightning lead to 25-18 by quarter-time.
Chloe Bibby opened up the second quarter with a three ball for the Lynx to cut the margin to four. Adelaide maintained its advantage, though, until it was Bibby who again sparked a Perth run that saw the visitors grab the lead.
She made two three-pointers and hit another basket as part of a 16-5 run for the Lynx that saw them go from nine points down to leading by two. Yet another three from Bibby then helped the Lynx to a 52-49 half-time advantage.
It was a hot first half from the Lynx who shot 58 per cent from the field with Bibby going for 15 with 5/6 three-point shooting while the rest of the team were 0/6 from beyond the arc.
The only concern for the Lynx was Adelaide also put up 49 points on 46 per cent field goal shooting with Steph Talbot going for 15.
Bibby opened up the second half with her sixth three-pointer of the game and gradually the Lynx worked their way further on top.
A late 9-0 run heading towards three quarter-time sparked by Sami Whitcomb scoring nine points in no time herself helped push Perth out to an 83-73 advantage by three quarter-time.
The Lynx then put the game out of reach of the Lightning quickly in the fourth quarter with the opening seven points including a three-pointer to Robbi Ryan to see the lead out to 17.
Adelaide didn’t manage a field goal for more than four minutes and with Bibby making her seventh three of the game, Perth’s lead got out to 21.
The Lynx then closed out the contest with the last six points including another bomb from outside the arc by Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard for the eventual 108-82 victory.
What’s next for the Lynx
The Lynx remain on the road to play the Southside Flyers in Melbourne on Sunday before returning home for the last game of the regular season at Bendat Basketball Centre against the Bendigo Spirit next Saturday.
CYGNETT WNBL ROUND 14
PERTH LYNX 108 (Bibby 29, Scherf 18, Whitcomb 15)
ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 82 (Whittle 23, Talbot 18, Monroe 17)