Lynx beat Flyers on hot last quarter

January 18, 2025 | Perth Lynx news

Perth Lynx had to dig deep and overcome a 16-point deficit but produced a dynamic fourth quarter led by Amy Atwell after Ally Wilson fired in the first half for the eventual 86-78 WNBL win over the Southside Flyers at the Perth High Performance Centre.

It was the last of three games at the HPC for the Lynx this season and they were aiming to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss in Bendigo to the Spirit.

Even though the Flyers arrived in last place and missing Bec Cole, Carley Ernst, Mikki Vaughn and Nikita Young, they had built a 16-point lead by the second quarter and were still leading most of the way.

But the Lynx fired in the fourth quarter to score the eventual eight-point win to remain solid in second position at 13-4 with four matches remaining.

Where the game was won

Coming back after two tough games on the road to Geelong and Bendigo, it was a tired looking Lynx outfit and the Flyers came out on a mission even while being shorthanded.

Southside were leading 21-18 by quarter-time before putting up 33 points to 23 in the second frame including landing 6/7 from three-point range to lead by as much as 16 points, and still 54-41 at half-time.

The Flyers were then still leading 66-59 by three quarter-time but the Lynx caught fire in the final term and ended up outscoring Southside 27-12 to turn a deficit as big as 16 into a 10-point lead, and the eight-point win.

The Lynx knocked down five three-pointers in the quarter with three of those from Amy Atwell and it was a 14-0 run that saw them take control of the contest on the way to the win.

Who the standout performers were

It was Ally Wilson who was instrumental in the Lynx only being 13 points down at half-time on the back of scoring 15 points in the second quarter on her way to 27 for the game to go with nine rebounds.

Miela Sowah delivered 19 points, two rebounds and two assists with 3/6 shooting from three-point territory while Amy Atwell caught fire with 11 points in the fourth quarter for 16 in the game for 4/9 from downtown.

Anneli Maley had all eight of her points in the first quarter but ended the game with 22 rebounds including nine at the offensive end along with five assists.

Laeticia Amihere also had six points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists, Teige Morrell four points and three assists, Alex Ciabattoni four points and two rebounds, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard two points, and Steph Gorman three assists.

Naz Hillmon ended up with 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals for Southside with Maddy Rocci contributing 19 points, five boards and four assists, Tera Reed 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Alice Kunek 12 points and nine boards.

How the game panned out

Laeticia Amihere and Anneli Maley did combine to give the Lynx an early 4-2 lead, but that would be their sole time in front until the final term.

Even with a couple of three-pointers from Miela Sowah late in the quarter, it was the Flyers still leading 21-18 by quarter-time with both teams struggling with their shooting with Southside going at 34 per cent and Perth at 27.

Despite the best efforts of Ally Wilson in the second quarter who scored 15 of her 17 points in the half for the Lynx, her teammates only managed eight points between them and the Flyers were able to pile on 33 themselves to open up a handy lead.

Southside went through a stretch early in the second quarter of knocking down five three-pointers in quick time and by half-time the visitors were leading 54-41 with Maddy Rocci having 17 of those points and Naz Hillmon 15.

The Lynx had their work to do after a 4/15 three-point shooting first half but there were signs of a fightback in the third quarter with Perth able to hold the Flyers to just the 12 points.

The Lynx had cut the deficit back to seven at three quarter-time thanks to the last four points from Sowah and Teige Morrell.

It was still going to take something special from the Lynx in the last quarter and that’s exactly what they delivered starting with a three-point barrage with two from Sowah and another from Amy Atwell who only had five points up to that point.

When Atwell hit her second triple of the quarter it was Perth in front with 5:45 to go and they had the lead for the first time since the opening minutes.

The Lynx would never surrender the lead again and it was a 14-0 scoring run that broke the game open before Atwell knocked down her third three ball of the final period to secure the eight-point win.

What’s next for the Lynx

The Lynx now return to the road for the next two games firstly against the Sydney Flames next Saturday and then the Adelaide Lightning the following Saturday.

The last home game of the regular season takes place back at the Bendat Basketball Centre on Friday February 7 against Geelong United.

CYGNETT WNBL SEASON 2024/25

PERTH LYNX 86 (Wilson 27, Sowah 19, Atwell 16)

SOUTHSIDE FLYERS 78 (Hillmon 23, Rocci 19, Reed 13)

BOX SCORE