Round 13 Preview: Flames in Perth to take on the Lynx
The Brydens Sydney Uni Flames are in for a treat this weekend as they are the first WNBL or NBL team to play in Western Australia.
The Flames take on the Perth Lynx on Saturday, March 5, at 10pm AEDT.
The Flames last saw the Lynx back in Round 8, where Perth escaped with a five point win at Qudos Bank Arena.
But the scouting report going into this game will be quite different, both Lauren Mansfield and Rennia Davis scored over 20 points in that game and now the Flames will be leaning on Keely Froling to provide that against Perth this time.
The Lynx are on top of the ladder despite being on the road for the season. They had to quarantine back into WA but now finish the season with four of their last seven games back in Perth.
Coach Shane Heal spoke with Lynx and Opals captain Sami Whitcomb on The Basketball Show last week, where he jokingly remarked he wish she hadn’t signed in Perth.
“In one mind I was pretty disappointed to see you back [in the WNBL],” he said.
Whitcomb spoke about the depth of the Lynx and the Flames will face that first hand this Saturday.
Marina Mabrey is the Lynx’s star, she scored 34 points against the Flames in our last match and is the league’s leading scorer at 22.1 points per game. Shyla Heal is fourth at 17.4 points per game.
The Flames also have to worry about 2019 WNBA No. 1 pick Jackie Young, former Flame Lauren Scherf, three-point sniper Darcee Garbin and the previously mentioned Whitcomb.
The Flames are set for a great test of their defence this week. The Lynx average the most point per game but the Flames improved their defence significantly in the second half of the season; in part due to Kalani Purcell’s emergence as a defensive star.
The Flames will take on the Perth Lynx at 10pm AEDT on Kayo Freebies.