Lynx hit back in style on home floor
The Perth Lynx hit back emphatically with Steph Gorman and Miela Sowah combining for nine three-pointers in the eventual 95-77 win over Geelong United in the last regular season WNBL game at Bendat Basketball Centre.
The Lynx had to respond on Friday night to last week’s loss in Adelaide to set up a battle over second spot next Sunday in Townsville, and they did exactly that opening up a 29-point lead before winning by 18 and to improve to a 15-5 record on the season with that match with the Fire to play.
Where the game was won
The Lynx were able to start blowing the game open by scoring the last six points of the first quarter and then with the first six of the second term to turn a tied ball game into one they were leading by 12 points.
Perth ended up outscoring Geelong 28 points to 12 in that second quarter to be leading 52-30 at the half before then also scoring the last eight points of the third period to be on top 77-50 by three quarter-time.
The Lynx would end up leading by as much as 29 points before securing the 18-point win on the back of shooting 54 per cent from the field, knocking down 12/32 from three-point range and making their free throws this time, going 13/15.
Perth also outrebounded Geelong 49-30 while having 19 fast break points, 15 points off United’s 12 turnovers and highlighting their influence, Steph Gorman was +29 in her 29 and-a-half minutes, and Amy Atwell +23 in her 26 minutes.
Who the standout performers were
There was plenty to like in the all-round team performance for the Lynx even in the absence of experienced guard Alex Ciabattoni with Miela top-scoring for the second time in the past three matches.
She finished with 22 points, five assists and four rebounds on the back of knocking down 4/8 from three-point territory.
Steph Gorman not only delivered another standout defensive performance but also had an impressive shooting night making 5/9 from behind the three-point line for 19 points to go with nine rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Ally Wilson had another strong showing with 15 points and seven assists with Laeticia Amihere contributing 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Amy Atwell nine points, three assists and two steals.
Fellow co-captain Anneli Maley had eight points and 14 rebounds with Teige Morrell contributing six points, five boards and four assists, and Kiara Waite two points and two rebounds.
Jaz Shelley finished with 25 points and six assists with 7/16 three-point shooting for Geelong with former Lynx forward Alex Sharp adding 16 points and six boards, and former Mandurah Magic NBL1 West centre Hannah Hank 12 points, four rebounds and three steals.
How the game panned out
Steph Gorman set the tone for the afternoon by making an early three-pointer before Ally Wilson took the home team to the 7-3 advantage after the opening two minutes.
Geelong were doing well to keep things close but Perth did close the first quarter with the last six points through Miela Sowah and Anneli Maley to head into quarter-time leading 24-18.
The Lynx then scored the six points of the second quarter as well to turn that into a 12-0 run either side of quarter-time to lead by 12 before a steadying three ball for Geelong from Gemma Potter.
Perth were just warming up, though, and another three from Sowah helped push the lead out to 16 and it was soon 19 when Gorman hit on the pull up jumper with three minutes to play.
When Sowah hit another from downtown the lead was out beyond 20 for the Lynx and that’s where it stayed with the home team leading 52-30 by the half on the back outscoring Geelong 28-12 in that second period.
It was another 25-20 in the third quarter and when Amy Atwell closed the period with three free throws, the Lynx advantage was out to 27 points before Geelong did win the final stanza 27-18 to cut the eventual Perth winning margin back to 18.
What’s next for the Lynx
The stage is now set for the Lynx to finish the regular season in Townsville next Sunday knowing that a win in that game against the Fire and they will finish in second position earning home court advantage in a semi-final match up with that same opponent.
Even with a loss, Perth will still finish third and be part of that same semi-final series against Townsivlle, only with the Fire getting to potentially host two of the three games if it goes that far.
CYGNETT WNBL SEASON 2024/25
PERTH LYNX 95 (Sowah 22, Gorman 19, Wilson 15)
GEELONG UNITED 77 (Shelley 25, Sharp 16, Hank 12)