Han Xu, Perth Lynx douse Fire's win streak

• Han Xu had 28 points and 13 rebounds in the 16-point win for the Perth Lynx
• Perth won the second half 48-31
• Alex Ciabattoni also played a starring role with 21 points for Perth

Chinese superstar Han Xu has praised her Perth Lynx teammates and coach Ryan Petrik as dominant second half helped them snap Townsville Fire's seven-game winning streak with a 97-81 victory at the Townsville Entertainment Centre.

"It's not just me," Xu said in the post-game interview following her 28-point, 13-rebound performance.

Moving to the WNBL to play in one of the most physical leagues in the world, the 6'11" centre said her role to set the tone for her team against the Fire was going to be very important.

"It was going to be very physical, so it was very important for me to be aggressive," she said.

The win still has the Lynx in third spot, one win behind the Fire and the Bendigo Spirit, who now move into top spot.

Key Details

• Result: Perth Lynx 97 def. Townsville Fire 81
• When: Saturday, 14th December 2025
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Standings: Perth Lynx | Townsville Fire

By the Numbers

• Han Xu (Perth Lynx) dominated with 28 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and two steals in 32 minutes.
• Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire) scored 17 points and grabbed two rebounds in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Lynx established early control, taking a 25-26 lead after the opening quarter and extending their advantage to 49-49 at half-time. Perth's superior shooting ability became evident in the third quarter, where they outscored Townsville 25-19 to build a crucial eight-point buffer heading into the final period.

Han Xu's presence in the paint proved decisive throughout the contest. The towering centre shot an efficient 9-from-16 from the field and dominated the boards with 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards that created second-chance opportunities for the Lynx. Her four blocks anchored Perth's defensive effort, helping limit Townsville's scoring opportunities inside.

Alex Ciabattoni provided outstanding support for the Lynx with 21 points on stellar 7-from-9 shooting from two-point range. The guard was on fire from downtown, connecting on both of her three-point attempts while contributing five rebounds and five assists. Ally Wilson added 19 points with impressive accuracy from deep, draining five triples on nine attempts to stretch Townsville's defence.

Perth's superior field goal percentage was the defining factor in their victory. The Lynx shot an outstanding 62.5% from the field compared to Townsville's solid 49%. Perth's rebounding dominance was equally impressive, claiming 47 boards to the Fire's 34, with their 17 offensive rebounds creating numerous second-chance scoring opportunities.

For Townsville, Alexandra Fowler fought valiantly with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Courtney Woods orchestrated the offence with seven assists to go with her 15 points. However, the Fire struggled from downtown, connecting on just eight of 26 three-point attempts for a disappointing 31% conversion rate that prevented them from keeping pace with Perth's balanced scoring attack.