Lynx can’t capitalise on strong three quarters

Perth Lynx produced a strong first three quarters with WNBL top spot on the line on Wednesday night but the Bendigo Spirit led by Sami Whitcomb took charge in the fourth for the 95-86 home victory.
The Lynx led by as much as 12 points up to three quarter-time and never once trailed in the game at Red Energy Arena, but the Spirit then took control in the final 10 minutes for the win that sees them move clear in top spot.
The win improves the Spirit to a 14-2 record on the season with the Lynx now 12-4 with their six-game winning streak coming to an end.
Where the game was won
The Lynx made the ideal start with the first seven points and then to be leading 13-6, 23-11 and to convert that into the 30-23 advantage by quarter-time.
Perth were still leading 53-45 by the half-time break having not once fallen behind and to go into the interval shooting 48 per cent. Ally Wilson and Laeticia Amihere combined for 25 points, and with the team having 11 second chance points and 10 points from turnovers.
The Lynx were still clinging to a five-point lead at three quarter-time but then the Spirit dominated the final term with 30 points to 16 including three quick three-pointers from Sami Whitcomb to get things rolling as they grabbed the lead for the first time and ended up winning by nine.
Who the standout performers were
Ally Wilson did all she could to try and leave her former home court victorious with the Lynx guard finishing the evening with 29 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals including going 5/12 from three-point range.
Laeticia Amihere had a significant impact too with another 21 points, three rebounds and three assists with Amy Atwell contributing 11 points, four assists and four steals, and Miela Sowah 10 points and three rebounds.
Alex Ciabattoni also ended up with four points, three rebounds and three assists, Anneli Maley four points, 14 boards and four assists, Steph Gorman three points and two rebounds, Teige Morrell two points and three boards, and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard two points and five rebounds.
Former Lynx captain Sami Whitcomb hit three huge triples to start the final quarter on her way to 29 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Marianna Tolo added 15 points and five rebounds, Veronica Burton 14 points and nine assists, Abbey Wehrung 12 points and three assists, Kelsey Griffin 12 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, and Casey Samuels 10 points on 3/4 three-point shooting.
How the game panned out
With top spot on the line, the Lynx made the perfect start away from home with the game’s first seven points including a triple from Ally Wilson on her former home floor.
Then after Abbey Wehrung hit consecutive three balls for Bendigo, Perth scored the next six points through Miela Sowah, Laeticia Amihere and Wilson to open up a 13-6 edge.
Then after Bendigo scored five straight, the Lynx went on another 10-0 run that started with three-pointers from Anneli Maley and Amy Atwell for the lead to grow to 23-11, and still by quarter-time the visitors were leading 30-23.
While Bendigo scored 11 of the first 15 points in the second quarter, Perth never fell behind and responded with 14 of the next 18 points to go back out to a 10-point lead including Wilson completing a four-point play on the way to 13 first half points against her old team.
The Lynx were still leading 53-45 by half-time before the Spirit once more started the third quarter strongly with the first seven points to cut the Perth lead back to just one.
Wilson answered once more with a couple more three-pointers on her way to putting up eight quick points and the Lynx’s lead was back out to five once more, and that’s where it remained by three quarter-time.
Perth’s lead was seven when Amihere scored to start the fourth quarter but Sami Whitcomb then took control of the contest with three consecutive three-point daggers.
The third of which gave Bendigo a first lead in the contest and Marianna Tolo hit some crucial buckets inside, Casey Samuels hit a couple of three-pointers of her own and the Spirit put up 30 points to 16 in the final quarter to turn that seven-point deficit into a nine-point win.
What’s next for the Lynx
The Lynx will look to shake the loss off and prepare for the final home game of the season at the Perth High Performance Centre on Saturday night in a Grand Final rematch against a Southside Flyers team currently occupying bottom place in the WNBL.
CYGNETT WNBL SEASON 2024/25
PERTH LYNX 86 (Wilson 29, Amihere 21, Atwell 11)
BENDIGO SPIRIT 95 (Whitcomb 29, Tolo 15, Burton 14)