Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik has credited his group’s gorgeous six-game profitable streak to a call to launch the shackles after they beat third-placed Bendigo 92-88 in Victoria.
The Lynx overcame a late scare to proceed their cost up the ladder. Having been 2-5 to begin the season, Petrik mentioned he’d been urging his group to play with out worry.
“There’s a real level of freedom and especially at the offensive end,” Petrik mentioned
“We’ve said just go out and ball, use Lauren Scherf as the hub, (Sami) Whitcomb as the Rolls Royce and just play. It’s really taken the shackles off and they’ve just exploded with it.”
The Lynx arrange their win by showcasing each their scoring energy and defensive power with a 34-12 second quarter. They then broke clear by 22 factors early within the last quarter earlier than momentum swung and Bendigo dragged the deficit again to solely two factors.
“It doesn’t have to be pretty,” Petrik mentioned.
“We had multiple chances to finish it. We just couldn’t land the uppercuts.”
The Lynx hadn’t gained six video games in a row since 2018. Whitcomb high scored with 25 factors. Robbi Ryan was necessary with 15 factors, Amy Atwell scored 12 and Chloe Bibby completed with 11.
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard got here off the bench to play a vital cameo after Scherf hit foul hassle. Scherf was on triple-double watch when she was hit along with her fourth foul firstly of the second half however Clinch Hoycard scored 9 factors, gained six rebounds and had three steals from solely 11 minutes.
“That’s her best game in the WNBL by a mile,” Petrik mentioned.
“We know she can shoot it. She’s been told clearly that we need her to get dirty, win rebounds and play as a big. We need her to set screens and free our guards up. She did that wonderfully well. Because of that, she will continue to get opportunities.”
The Lynx now face the problem of taking part in in opposition to championship favourites Melbourne on Sunday of their third away recreation in a row.
