LYNX CAN’T OVERCOME BOOMERS FAST STARTS
Perth Lynx did their best to fight back but giving up big runs at the start of both halves made it difficult with the Melbourne Boomers claiming the Wednesday night 90-76 WNBL victory.
The two teams locked horns to open Round 13 of the WNBL season at the Melbourne Sports Centres at Parkville with the Boomers attempting to consolidate their playoff spot, and the Lynx attempting to break back in.
In the end, Melbourne starting the game 23-2 and then opening the second half 17-4 proved the difference on their way to the 14-point victory.
What it means for the Lynx is that they remain outside the top four with three games remaining with a 9-9 record and having lost six of the past seven matches.
Where the game was won
It was the way the Boomers started both halves in dominant fashion that would prove the difference in the game with the Lynx able to respond on each occasion, but leave themselves too much to do in the process.
It was a horror start from the Lynx and the Boomers were leading 23-2 at one point on the way to the 33-9 lead by quarter-time where the home team shot 59 per cent from the field and scored 17 of those 33 points from the nine Lynx turnovers.
On top of those nine turnovers, Perth shot just 3/16 for the quarter and left themselves plenty to do.
They did well to get back into the contest in the second quarter by scoring 32 points on the back of shooting 11/19 from the floor and 8/10 at the free-throw line with just the two turnovers.
However, it was a similar story to start the second half to the first with the Boomers starting off with a 17-4 run and that enabled them to open up a match-winning lead, and end up claiming the 14-point victory.
By the end of the game, the Lynx had shot just 35 per cent from the field and 6/22 from three-point range with 18/23 at the foul line but the 23 turnovers was the biggest factor in the game.
Perth did well on the glass with 51 rebounds to 37 including 19 at the offensive end, but the Boomers scored 35 points from the Lynx turnovers.
Who the standout performers were
The first quarter might have been one where it was going to be tough to find too many positives for the Lynx, but they did fight the game out from there to certainly take something from it.
That ended up seeing Miela Goodchild top-score with 15 points including hitting two three-pointers and going 5/5 at the foul line on top of four assists, two steals and two rebounds.
Teige Morrell also had a best performance in Lynx colours playing over 22 minutes for 14 points, 10 rebounds and two assists on 5/8 shooting.
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard also just fell short of her season-high with 13 points and five rebounds while making 3/6 from three-point territory.
Ash Hannan also caught fire in the second quarter on her way to a season best nine points and five rebounds with Anneli Maley contributing eight points and 11 rebounds, and Alex Ciabattoni six points, an assist and a steal.
Emily Potter finished with four points and three rebounds, Chloe Forster three points and two assists, and Steph Gorman two points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Monique Conti top-scored for the Boomers in her 100th WNBL game with 19 points and five assists with Jordin Canada adding 17 points and seven assists, Keely Froling 16 points, Naz Hillmon 15 and Sara Blicavs 11 to go with 12 rebounds.
How the game panned out
To say the game didn’t get off to a good start for the Lynx would be the world’s greatest understatement with the Boomers scoring the opening 11 points of the contest.
Perth eventually got on the board thanks to Alex Ciabattoni after almost three minutes but Melbourne kept on going with the next 12 points to be leading 23-2 before a pair of free-throws from Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard.
Miela Goodchild also hit a three late in the opening period for Perth and Emily Potter scored down low, but by quarter-time it was the Boomers in control leading 33-9.
The Lynx were up against it but showed strong character to hit back in the second quarter and it was Goodchild providing the spark. She scored eight straight points on her own to get some momentum rolling to start the second frame.
Ash Hannan then came on and hit a three and made a couple more baskets while Teige Morrell also provided a spark with seven points in the period.
That helped the Lynx cut the Boomers lead to 51-41 by the half-time break and they were right back in the contest.
Morrell opened up the second half scoring half too for the Lynx to get back within eight points, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way with the Boomers going on a 17-2 run from there including a pair of three balls from Monique Conti.
Melbourne were leading 77-57 at three quarter-time from there and the home team continued to put their foot down opening up an advantage of as much as 27 during the fourth quarter.
To the credit of the Lynx, they fought the game out well and three successive triples from Clinch Hoycard helped bring the final margin to 14 points.
What’s next for the Lynx
The Lynx now have three games of the season remaining beginning back in Melbourne next Wednesday night against the Southside Flyers.
The WNBL then takes a week off for the FIBA international window before the Lynx are back in action at Bendat Basketball Centre against the UC Capitals on Sunday February 18.
The last game of the regular season will then be on Saturday February 24 on the road to the Bendigo Spirit.
CYGNETT WNBL ROUND 13
PERTH LYNX 76 (Goodchild 15, Morrell 14, Clinch Hoycard 13)
MELBOURNE BOOMERS 90 (Conti 19, Canada 17, Froling 16)