Flames lose Indigenous Round clash to Lynx
The Sydney Flames fought hard but couldn’t hold off a fast-finishing Perth Lynx, who won the Indigenous Round fixture 84-78 at the Bendat Basketball Centre.
Match summary
Mikaela Ruef and Cayla George linked up on the match’s opening play to get the match’s scoring underway. This was followed by buckets to Carla Pitman (in her first career start), Shaneice Swain and George, as the visitors led 9-7. A triple by Pitman and an offensive rebound and score by Ruef ensured, before guard Swain landed another shot from downtown. Once Ruef and Grorge converted from inside, the Hoops Capital side’s lead grew to 10 (22-12). Another triple by Swain and the lead was 12. Despite a late basket by George, Guy Molloy’s side led 29-19 at the first change, thanks to shooting 54 per cent from the field.
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George and Ruef linked up once again to get the harbour city side off and running in the second. George nailed a triple before Pitman and Yemiyah Morris converted baskets in the paint, as the lead remained in double-digits. Perth then went on a run, closing the margin to just five, after forcing Sydney into numerous turnovers. But quick scores by Swain and Emma Clarke powered Sydney to a 7-0, to restore the 12-point lead. Late points by Pitman and Ruef gave the Flames an 11-point Indigenous Round lead at the main break.
A sloppy start by the Flames on offence saw the Lynx close the margin to four early in the third, on the back of a 7-0 run. Despite a time-out from Molloy, Perth’s streak continued as Sydney went close to five minutes without scoring – made worse when Ally Wilson’s and-one levelled the scores. Laeticia Amihere’s driving bucket gave Perth their first lead since the opening quarter. A triple from Swain ended the Flames’ drought, which then saw the two sides trade baskets. Swain converted her seventh triple of the game as time expired, to make it 64-all at three-quarter-time.
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Stephanie Gorma’s three on the opening possession put Perth’s nose back in front before George cancelled it out. More turnovers hurt Sydney, as Perth moved out to a seven-point lead following an Anneli Maley jumper, capping a 10-3 run. Despite playing with four fouls, Swain continued to be the shining light for Sydney. A tough driving lay-up by Clarke closed it to five with 3.48 to play. The Lynx then rattled off four quick ones before Swain kept Sydney in it with her eighth triple (moving her into equal fifth-time in threes hit in a WNBL game). In the end, it proved too little, too late as Perth ran out winners by six.
Where the match was decided
Sydney suffered their fourth straight loss due to inferior statistics in field goal percentage (45-38), steals (15-5), turnovers (20-8), points in the paint (48-32), points off turnovers (18-11), bench points (14-8) and points off turnovers (30-13).
Key moment
A 15-0 to start the second half proved pivotal for the Lynx, who quickly turned a half-time deficit into a lead – one in which the Flames never recovered.
Player of the game
Swain’s shooting display was historic for the Flames, hitting eight triples on her way to 26 points, to go with three assists and two rebounds.
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The other two standouts were George (19 points, 16 boards, four dimes and two blocks) and Ruef (10 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists).
What’s next
The Flames, who are now 1-4, now return home to Sydney and will host Geelong for the first time on Saturday, November 30 at Quaycentre – tipping off at 4.45pm.
Tickets to the round five clash are still available here.