Geelong United downed by Perth Lynx in round 15, plus Hannah Hank’s improving numbers
Geelong United was no match for a playoff bound Perth on Friday night, with the Lynx a clinical force on offence. Plus, the numbers behind Hannah Hank’s steep improvement.
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Geelong United has fallen to a fifth-straight defeat at the hands of a clinical, playoff bound Perth Lynx.
United were little match for their WNBL rival in the 77-95 round 15 loss in the west, the game slipping from Chris Lucas’ side’s grasp in the first half after a 12-28 second term.
The Lynx would get out to as much as a 29-point lead, though United, already out of the playoff race, flattered the scoreboard with the series of threeballs in the final term to bring it back to 18 by the final buzzer.
The Lynx, led by captain Anneli Maley (14 rebounds), outmuscled the visitors on the boards (49-30) and capitalised on offence, shooting at 54 per cent to 38 from the field, with Miela Sowah (22 points), Steph Gorman (19), Ally Wilson (15) and Laeticia Amihere (14) all proving a handful for United’s defence.
And while turnovers favoured the home side 20-12, it was the Lynx’ early ability to bank points from turnovers which set them apart.
Jaz Shelley was a welcome return to United’s line-up, missing last round with a family commitment, as the stand-in captain lit up the three-point line with a game-high 25 points.
Shelley went 7-16 from behind the arc – with three of those in the fourth term – while dishing off six assists, with Gemma Potter impacting off the bench and from three with 10 points, draining three long-range daggers at crucial times.
United will eye a winning end to their season in a six-versus-seven match-up against Adelaide Lightning next week, while Perth heads to Townsville to vie for second place.
Preview: Improving Hank poised to take game to new level for United
Hannah Hank is confident Geelong United can gain a competitive advantage in year two in the WNBL as a core group remain in town for the NBL1 season.
While United’s finals hope have dimmed after last round’s 14-point loss to UC Capitals, the squad will look to finish their inaugural season on a high in its final two games, starting with Perth Lynx on Friday, before attention turns to the off-season, where coach Chris Lucas will oversee a program for several of his WNBL players signed to multi-year deals.
For Hank, her improvement in her already four months in Geelong and the WNBL has been steep, the 188cm forward now an integral component to United’s rotation before banking her best performance and first double-double – 19 points and 12 rebounds – of the season in United’s 77-91 loss to the Capitals last week.
While there has been glimpses of Hank’s impact earlier in the year, it’s only recently the 24-year-old’s numbers have started to spike.
Whether that’s from a growing confidence as Hank starts to get her feet under her in her rookie WNBL season, or the timing of captain Keely Froling’s season-ending injury forcing Hank to shoulder more responsibility in her housemate’s absence, there is no doubt Hank is starting to deliver for her teammates.
Lucas has been vocal on his want to give first-year players, including Hank, more minutes this season, and without Froling and a true centre in their line-up, Hank, alongside mid-season recruit Alex Sharp, have been best equipped to take on the four and five positions.
Averaging 6.31 points in her first 13 games, Hank’s numbers in her last six games – or since Froling went down – have soared to 10.6 points.
Three of those six games she’s scored in the double digits, with her 19-point game against the Capitals coming at an incredible 90 per cent efficiency from the floor.
Among those in United’s line-up to have played 100-plus minutes this season, Hank ranks first for field goal percentage (42.7) and third for foul line conversion (81.1), with the forward often looked to start, among the starting five 12 of a possible 19 games this summer.
Speaking after Saturday’s performance, Lucas said Hank’s growth this year had been “immense”.
“That’s a credit to her because she’s done the work … if you do the work you get the rewards,” Lucas said.
“She really played with a lot of poise tonight and that’s an area of the game we’ve been trying to work on with her.”
Hank’s work ethic has seen her thrive on seeking improvement, while the South Australian credited both her teammates and coaches, including Lucas and assistant Hannah Lowe, for instilling confidence in her.
“I think I put in extra work, and watching extra film with Chris and Hannah Lowe has been awesome with just talking through, ‘hey, what’s a better option you could have gone to in this scenario?’ … really digesting that film and trying go back and do a better job at it next game,” Hank said.
“My biggest thing is always trying to have a growth mindset, what can I continue to get better at and what can I be working on now so that come next game I can execute that better.”
Hank’s arrival in the WNBL comes after her first professional stint in Germany with TK Hannover Luchse, and while she described the experience as “tough” she also acknowledged there was growth from the experience.
“Playing overseas basketball and playing in Europe was a big goal of mine coming out of college, as well as the WNBL, so I was really happy I got to tick that off and now it’s just moving on for the next thing and setting the next goalpost,” she said.
As for United’s final two games, Hank hopes the team can end their rollercoaster first season in the league on a high, including a final round fixture in front of Hank’s extended family in Adelaide.
Disappointed not to reward their supporters with a final home game win against the Capitals, Hank said the team would go in into Friday’s clash against Perth Lynx, a side their pushed within three points last month, and Adelaide intentional about their defence and ready to “have a crack” at finishing the season with two wins.
- Geelong United tip off against Perth Lynx 7pm Friday at Bendat Basketball Centre. Watch live on 9Now.
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