Post-Game Report November 1 v Perth Lynx
The Jayco Southside Flyers traveled to Perth in what was tipped to be an exciting Grand Final rematch in Round 1 of the 2024/25 Cygnett WNBL Season against the Perth Lynx on Saturday evening. The Lynx outclassed the Flyers to win 94-79.
The Flyers sported a different outfit to that, that played in their Championship run in 2023/24 having lost some key big names, including Lauren Jackson. Newly appointed Head Coach, Kristie Harrower had put together an exciting line-up signing Alice Kunek and imports – Mikayla Vaughn and Naz Hillmon, with Hillmon returning to the WNBL after a stellar first season with the Melbourne Boomers in 2023/24. The new additions to the squad were touted to make the round 1 match-up against the Lynx a close one.
Kunek began the scoring for the night and scored her first points as a Flyer with a quick lay-up, which was immediately answered by the Lynx with Meila Sowah (nee Goodchild) converting from beyond the arc. Kunek looked to get her teammates involved early with an assist to Vaughn who recorded her first points as a Flyer. Again, the Lynx responded with a three, this time from Anneli Maley. Maddi Rocci tied things up early after a steal in transition that sent her to the line to convert the and 1 after some heavy contact under the ring.
Kunek continued to make her Flyers debut one to remember by hitting the scoreboard again from beyond the arc to give the Flyers their first lead of the game 10-6 early in the first. The Flyers began to tighten on the defensive end which slowed the Lynx’s scoring until the Lynx’s new recruit Ally Wilson opened her campaign in new colours with a triple and followed it up with a lay-up in transition to give the Lynx back the lead. It looked to be Kunek and Wilson’s quarter as they both shot the lights out however, the Lynx were becoming troublesome for the Flyers from 3-point range (50% 3PT) to lead at the end of the first, 31-25.
The Flyers could not stop the Lynx’s shooters as Alex Ciabattoni opened the second quarter with another three, whilst Wilson blew the Lynx’s lead out to seven with a step-back jumper. Dallas Loughridge finally brought the Lynx’s 5-0 run to an end with a reverse lay-up, whilst Hillmon and Rocci worked hard on the offensive end to claw back at the Lynx’s lead. The combination of the Lynx’s ability to convert from long range and Wilson’s damaging half on the scoreboard saw the Flyers trail 57-45 at the half. Kunek had a standout first half finishing with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
The second half was one the Flyers looked to put behind them as the Lynx continued to convert from beyond the arc and extended their lead out to 18 points in the early minutes of the second half. The Lynx capitalised on the Flyers’ lacking ability to execute in offense, and the Flyers were unable to stop the Lynx’s sharper shooters- Maley and Sowah who started to add to the Lynx’s lead. Harrower checked in Tayah Burrows for her first minutes as a Flyer to add some fresh legs to the floor however, this was not enough to slow the Lynx as they led, 86-57 at the end of the third.
Manuala Pouch made her WNBL debut for the Flyers in the final quarter and did so with a bang converting from downtown. The Flyers managed to slow the Lynx’s scoring prowess in the quarter, holding them to 12 points, whilst being able to add 22 points to the scoreboard led by Kunek who had another stellar quarter adding 9 points to her tally. The Lynx’s damaging third quarter proved to be the difference at the final siren, which saw the Flyers open their 2024/25 campaign with a 15-point loss on the road against the Lynx.
Southside Flyers Stat Leaders:
Alice Kunek: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals
Carly Ernst: 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Maddi Rocci: 12 points, 8 assists, 4 steals, 4 rebounds
Naz Hillmon: 11 Points, 6 rebounds
The Southside Flyers will return home and look to record their first win when they face Geelong United on Thursday, November 7 at Geelong Arena, you can tune in live from 7 pm on 9Now.
The Flyers will then play the Sydney Flames in their home opener on Saturday, November 9 at the State Basketball Centre. Tip-off is 5 pm, and you can purchase your tickets here.