Women’s National Basketball League: Melbourne Boomers share top spot after win over Perth Lynx

The Melbourne Boomers drew level on wins with the UC Capitals at the top of the Women’s National Basketball League ladder after a gritty win over third-placed Perth Lynx.

The Melbourne Boomers drew level on wins with the UC Capitals at the top of the Women’s National Basketball League ladder after a gritty win over third-placed Perth at Wantirna’s State Basketball Centre on Friday night.

The Boomers, 13-5 for the season, and the Capitals are a game ahead of Perth with the Adelaide Lightning a game further back in fourth spot. With the win, their fourth on the trot, the Boomers have booked their place in the post-season.

BOOMERS BOSS HEADING FOR NZ

Ezi Magbegor starred for the Boomers this week. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Building on a stirring overtime win against the Bendigo Spirit the previous week, the Boomers beat the Lynx 64-59 in front of another massive home crowd in excess of 2500.

Melbourne young gun Ezi Magbegor led the way with 17 points and six rebounds, star import Lindsay Allen chipped in with 13 points and seven assists while Maddie Garrick sank 12 points and came up with a block.

Melbourne started strongly, opening a 10-point lead early in the first quarter, before Perth shook off the cobwebs and edged to a one-point lead at quarter-time.

The match began to develop into a long range shootout when the sides traded three-pointers early in the second term but Perth maintained control and stretched its advantage to six points by the halftime break.

Just a minute back on court, the Boomers were within a point after a three-point jumper from Garrick and a layup from Magbegor.

Though Perth managed to edge clear once again, the Boomers had gone up a gear and another layup from Magbegor with 19 seconds left on the clock gave the home side the lead heading into the final quarter.

Maddie Garrick was great in support. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The last term was a finals-like arm wrestle with Perth still managing to get its nose in front with five minutes to go.

But, from there, the Boomers settled and ground out a vital five-point win.

The win sets up a huge showdown with Peth on Thursday night, this time on the other side of the Nullarbor, before a Saturday clash in Adelaide completes a difficult double for the finals-bound Boomers.

Melbourne will then round out the regular season with a clash against its longtime cross-town rivals, Dandenong, at the Rangers’ Dandenong Stadium on Saturday, January 19

MELBOURNE BOOMERS 64 (Ezi Magbegor 17, Lindsay Allen 13, Maddie Garrick 12) defeated PERTH LYNX 59 (Britany McPhee 15, Asia Taylor 11, Alison Schwagmeyer 11.)