Perth Lynx Triumph in Riveting Showdown, Toppling Southside Flyers and Clinching 2nd Place on the WNBL Ladder!
Announcement posted by Basketball Australia 23 Dec 2023
Summary
In a captivating Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) matchup at Bendat Basketball Centre, the Perth Lynx clashed with the Southside Flyers in a game characterized by intense swings of momentum.
The initial quarter witnessed a scoring spectacle from both teams. Despite the Southside Flyers establishing a 7-point lead, the Perth Lynx rallied back, concluding the quarter with a slim 27-25 lead. Notably, Amy Atwell stood out with 9 points, 1 rebound, and 2 steals during the first quarter, complemented by Maley's 6 points and 3 rebounds for the Lynx in the first quarter. Puoch showcased her skills for the Flyers with 7 points and 3 rebounds.
Aari McDonald and Steph Gorman's standout efforts in the second quarter nudged the Perth Lynx ahead, securing a narrow 48-46 lead at halftime. The scoring exchanges mirrored a seesaw, with Bec Cole from the Flyers contributing crucial buckets.
The third quarter highlighted a stellar performance by Amy Atwell, who found her rhythm from the 3-point line, contributing to a 12-point lead for the Perth Lynx. Southside Flyers responded tenaciously, narrowing the margin to 8 points at the close of the quarter, with the Lynx leading 77-69.
In the final quarter, defensive intensity took center stage, and Anneli Maley achieved a significant milestone, scoring her 1000th career point with a pivotal 3-pointer. The Lynx maintained control, securing a 12-point lead to clinch the victory.
Adding significance to the game, historical trends over the past 15 seasons suggested that the team winning the first encounter often claims the season series. Post tonight's game, the series stands tied at 1-1, setting the stage for a compelling future matchup.
Score
Perth Lynx 95 defeated Southside Flyers 85.
Venue
Bendat Basketball Centre - Perth
Best photo
Amy Atwell of the Lynx drives to the basket against Jasmine Dickey of the Flyers.
Top Performers
- Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx): 27 pts, 4 stl, 5-9 from the 3-point line.
- Aari Mcdonald (Perth Lynx): 25 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl.
- Mercedes Russell (Southside Flyers): 20 pts, 12 reb, 4 stl.
- Nyadiew Puoch (Southside Flyers): 11 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast.
Game stats
Video highlights
Game images
- Getty (all WNBL images this season)
Next games
- Next Perth Lynx game: WED 27 DEC v UC CAPITALS | 6:30pm (AWST) at Bendat Basketball Centre - watch on ESPN.
- Next Southside Flyers game: Sat 30 DEC v ADELAIDE | 7:00pm (ACST) at Adelaide Arena - watch on 9Now.
Other resources