After finishing runner-up in the WNBL’s MVP race, Anneli Maley has powered the Perth Lynx to a 86-76 semi-final game one victory against the Bendigo Spirit.
Knowing a victory would put either side one win away from the league’s grand final, Maley grabbed a sixth consecutive double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds along with three steals at the Perth High Performance on Saturday.
The semi-final victory could be a modicum of revenge for the 27-year-old after going down by 41 votes to Bendigo’s Izzy Borlase, who claimed the competition’s MVP award on Monday.
The win fired the Lynx to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series as they attempt to return to the grand final for a third time in five years.
It took just over three minutes of Perth magic to balloon their advantage to a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter after going on a 13-1 run.
Sharp shooter Amy Atwell (17 points) was at the centre of it, bucketing eight points in the period on her way to a fourth straight double-digit performance.
But it was Opal Ally Wilson who helped stave off a valiant fourth-quarter effort by Bendigo, scoring10 points in the final period to seal victory and finishing with 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Bendigo must win in front of their home fans on Tuesday night if they are to keep their hopes of making a second consecutive grand final alive.
Borlase was typically inspirational, manufacturing 22 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists, while American Meg McConnell had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Casey Samuels (two shots) also made her long-awaited return after a foot injury ruled her out since October.
Maley and Wilson started hot, firing 12 and nine points respectively as Perth established a 29-22 quarter-time advantage.
Bendigo shot the lights out as they drew level midway in the second quarter, but Maley continued to work the floor to keep Perth’s lead to six points at halftime.
The Spirit struggled to find the net at the same pace as their opponents, as Perth went on their 13-1 run midway through the third quarter.
Down by 15 points at the final break, Abbey Wehrung scored back-to-back threes to keep Bendigo in the match, but Wilson scored two late settling triples to ensure the win.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/advantage-lynx-as-maley-wins-battle-of-mvp-contenders-c-21637483
