Lynx dominate Caps for thumping home win
The Perth Lynx hit back in emphatic fashion delivering a dominant WNBL performance on the way to beating the UC Capitals 87-63 at Bendat Basketball Centre on Thursday night.
The Lynx were looking to rebound from two losses last week to the Bendigo Spirit and Sydney Flames, and they did so in style including a 14-0 run either side of quarter-time to end up leading by as much as 33 points and winning by 24.
The win improves Perth to a 7-3 record on the season to remain in second position on the WNBL table in what is their only appearance in Round 7.
Where the game was won
The Lynx dominated the game through the first three quarters beginning with 20 points to 10 in the first term even while only shooting 6/18 from the field but they went 7/8 at the foul line while pulling down 15 rebounds and forcing Canberra into six turnovers, 5/22 shooting and 10 points.
It was a monstrous 37 points for the Lynx in the second quarter as they blew the game wide open with shooting 12/20 from the floor, 5/10 from downtown and 8/9 at the foul line including Amy Atwell scoring 13 points with three triples.
That saw the Lynx leading 57-30 by half-time and the lead was out to 33 at three quarter-time before they went on to win by 24 even with just shooting 34 per cent from the field, and going 8/38 at 21 from behind the arc.
Perth did make 21/25 at the foul line while pulling down a mammoth 63 rebounds to 47 including 23 offensive boards for 21 second chance points while also scoring 20 fast break points and 20 points from the 18 Canberra turnovers.
Who the standout performers were
Once again the Lynx had plenty of terrific contributors in the win even if the shooting percentages had plummeted by the end of the night even with the 24-point win.
Miela Sowah top-scored again for Perth with 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists while going 12/13 from the foul line.
Laeticia Amihere had a hot start and finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds and four steals with Amy Atwell delivering her best performance since returning from a knee injury with 15 points and two assists while knocking down three long balls.
Ally Wilson also ended up with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals with Teige Morrell adding six points and 12 rebounds, Anneli Maley five points and six boards, Steph Gorman five points, two rebounds and two assists, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard five points and four rebounds, and Kiara Waite two points and three boards.
Nyadiew Puoch top-scored for the Capitals with 18 points with Ella Tofaeono adding 15 and Chantel Horvat 12.
How the game panned out
Coming off the two losses in Round 6, the Lynx came out to send a message on their home floor and opened up an 8-2 lead with Miela Sowah, Laeticia Amihere and Ally Wilson all getting on the board early.
Amihere then hit a three and Sowah made two more free throws to give Perth the 13-4 advantage and that was 20-10 by the end of the first quarter thanks to another seven straight points including buckets to Sowah and Amihere.
Perth also scored the first seven points of the second quarter to make it a 14-0 run to open up a 17-point lead when Wilson knocked down another three-pointer.
The Lynx then soon added five more points topped off by an and-one from Anneli Maley before 11 consecutive points capped by Amy Atwell landing a three ball to put the home side on top 43-18.
Perth also finished the first half on another 11-3 run with Atwell hitting her third bomb of the game with the Lynx going into the break in control with the 57-30 lead.
The lead was 29 points when Sowah scored to open the second half and it was out to 30 with Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard connecting from behind the three-point arc, and then by three quarter-time it was a 33-point advantage for the ladies in red.
Things dried up in the fourth quarter when the Lynx went to the bench but the win was secured and despite just a 10-point period, it was still an emphatic 24-point win for the home team.
What’s next for the Lynx
The Lynx now have seven days before another crack at the undefeated, league-leading Bendigo Spirit, this time on the road next Thursday night.
From there, the Lynx play their first game at HBF Stadium on Monday December 23 in their first ever WNBL encounter with Geelong United.
CYGNETT WNBL SEASON 2024/25
PERTH LYNX 87 (Sowah 24, Amihere 15, Atwell 15)
UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA CAPITALS 63 (Puoch 18, Tofaeono 15, Horvat 12)