Perth Lynx proceed to pour stress on the WNBL prime 4, extending their profitable streak to seven with a pair of essential highway victories over title contenders Bendigo and Melbourne.
On Wednesday, the Lynx warded off a fourth-quarter scare to down the Spirit 92-88 in Bendigo.
Perth’s commanding 22-point lead was sliced to only two factors after Spirit celebrity Anneli Maley (19 factors, 17 rebounds) impressed a 28-8 barrage.
Lynx captain Sami Whitcomb (game-high 25 factors) held her nerve towards the tide by netting a pair of free throws with 0.8 seconds on the clock, after teammate Lauren Scherf’s important offensive board, to snap Bendigo’s three-match profitable spell.
Fifth-ranked Perth’s giant-slaying run continued on Sunday when Amy Atwell scored 27 factors together with seven three-pointers – 4 of them coming in Lynx’s commanding second time period – to underpin a 91-82 victory over the Boomers at Parkville.
Melbourne’s second successive defeat induced them to lose prime spot to Southside after the Flyers edged previous Adelaide Lightning 73-72 on Saturday night time to maneuver to 12-4.
Southside trailed by a degree late within the seesawing encounter at Adelaide Arena, earlier than forcing the Lightning right into a shot-clock violation then hitting the entrance when American Kayla Thornton (22 factors, 11 rebounds) scored with 15.8 seconds remaining.
Adelaide had the final possession however skipper Steph Talbot’s jumper for the win within the dying levels was off-line.
On Friday, Townsville Fire narrowly averted a boilover, edging residence 81-80 towards the Canberra Capitals on the Townsville Entertainment Centre.
The Fire’s 52-41 third-quarter benefit became a 70-62 deficit on a withering 29-8 burst from the Capitals however the residence facet steadied the ship and edged forward on a pair of Tianna Hawkins foul pictures.
With 13.2 seconds left, Canberra had the ultimate possession however had been unable to get a shot up, with skipper Brittany Smart pressured right into a last-second turnover.
Zitina Aokuso amassed 20 factors in 21 minutes off the bench for Townsville, whereas import Rae Burrell (24 factors) top-scored for the valiant Caps.
Despite a wretched begin and unconvincing end at Qudos Bank Arena, the Fire made it two-from-two with an 82-78 conquer the Sydney Flames on Sunday.
After conceding a whopping 10 offensive boards to path by 13 factors at quartertime, Townsville dominated the center two phrases, outscoring the Flames 61-28.
Piloted by captain Keely Froling (24 factors), Sydney charged to the end within the fourth quarter however got here up simply quick.
The Flames had been with out coach Shane Heal and his daughter, rising star guard Shyla Heal, for the third consecutive week.
Shane Heal is going through a membership investigation however all events have remained tight-lipped on the character of the probe.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
