Reigning champs tear down ladder leaders

The reigning Chemist Warehouse WNBL champions have delivered a warning shot to the remainder of the competition by dismantling the ladder leaders.

Well below their best for the opening 10 rounds of the season, the Fire were simply brilliant en route to a 97-72 win over Perth.

Tess Madgen (20 points, seven rebounds and three assists) led six players in double figures, with Ally Malott (19 points and seven rebounds) named the First Things First MVP after starring in Suzy Batkovic’s absence.

The Fire shot a stunning 16/25 from beyond the arc to engineer their 25-point win as Malott stroked three daggers alone in the opening term.

Micaela Cocks (14 points and four assists) was also proving a threat from long distance, while Madgen was proving a handful in the key as she made not one but two and-one plays.

Leading 30-19 at the first change, the margin continued to balloon as Cocks stroked her third triple before Laurin Mincy (11 points) stroked back-to-back daggers.

With a 52-29 advantage, the Fire continued their rampage in the second half as Malott, Cocks and Zitina Aokuso (10 points and five rebounds) proved damaging.

A third triple from Mincy ensured a comfortable 78-51 lead at three-quarter-time before it became party time in the final term.

Casey Samuels (12 points and three rebounds) stroked back-to-back threes before young gun Alex Fowler registered her first WNBL score from the free throw line.

The Fire clearing their bench down the stretch as they registered a much-needed win.

Click here to read full box scores between the Fire and the Lynx.