WNBL: Perth Lynx hold on for 80-77 win over Geelong United

Geelong United put up their best performance against a WNBL big three, the game going down to the wire in a frantic final minute. See how it played out.

Geelong United’s Alex Sharp shoots against Amy Atwell of Perth Lynx during their round 11 WNBL battle. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Geelong United pushed WNBL title contenders Perth Lynx within three points in a show of confidence for the new franchise on Sunday.

Down seven points with 25 seconds left on the clock, consecutive three point daggers from Jaz Shelley and Gemma Potter cut the margin to one with 9.3 seconds to give the home side a sniff of a chance.

But a foul to Potter saw Perth draw three clear via the foul line before an Elissa Brett threeball attempt bounced off the ring to deny Geelong the leveller, the final score 77-80 to Perth.

Despite the loss, the performance should give Chris Lucas’ side heart considering it was a stark turnaround from their 25-point loss to the Lynx on December 23, and their best result against a top-three team this season.

“Last performance against Perth was unacceptable, we made some huge adjustments... I’m pretty pleased with the team to be quite honest,” Lucas said post-match.

“It’s a huge effort to a second to top team but it’s still a loss.”

After going 1-3 on the road, United returned to Geelong Arena for the first home game in a month brimming with some confidence after a spirited come-from-behind win last week against Southside Flyers despite injuries to captain Keely Froling and Monique Conti.

Geelong United’s Hannah Hank. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Despite Froling sitting out the rest of the season and with Conti still sidelined on Sunday, United managed to pick up where they left off from the Flyers’ game, confidently

converting in the paint early when scoring had been an issue in recent weeks.

First-year forward Hannah Hank banked six of Geelong’s first 10 points, before several others got involved to spread the load as Geelong’s field shooting percentage peaked as high as 50 per cent in the first half.

Trailing by five at quarter time, United cut it back to one by the main break, Gemma Potter hitting a timely three to end the quarter.

But the second-placed Lynx put the foot back down in the third – Lucas later labelling the term the difference – as they raced back out to a seven-point lead, the star power of Perth import Laeticia Amihere (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Opals Anneli Maley (11, 11) and Amy Atwell (22 points) on show on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

United just as quickly flipped the switch early in the fourth, cutting it back to one in the opening 70 seconds with points through Sarah Elsworthy, Haley Jones, and Jaz Shelley while Gemma Potter laid an important block to deny Perth.

But a classy Lynx outfit found another gear, executing a series of plays to extend the lead back out to eight late in the game, before umpire calls went against United’s favour, Jones fouled out of the game with just under three minutes in a major blow to their chances.

Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik was frank in his post-match assessment of his disappointed in his team’s play despite the win, adding that was “credit to Geelong”.

Originally published as WNBL: Perth Lynx hold on for 80-77 win over Geelong United