Lynx star Amy Atwell explodes for 32 in 30 mins

• Perth dominate early and dismantle Southside 98–81 in Round 11.
• Amy Atwell erupts for 32 points with six threes and elite efficiency.
• Maley monster double-double drives Lynx control on glass and tempo.

Perth lit up their home floor with a blistering offensive performance, overpowering the Flyers 98–81 in a high-tempo contest that was effectively decided by halftime. The Lynx exploded out of the gates with a 33–21 first quarter, then backed it up with another devastating 30–14 second term, putting Southside in a 28-point hole they could never climb out of.

Southside steadied after the break behind Maddi Rocci and Cayla George, even outscoring Perth in the third and fourth quarters, but the early damage was too great. Perth’s shotmaking, especially from deep, and their ability to generate repeated scoring runs gave them full control for 37 of 40 minutes.

Lynx Standouts

• Amy Atwell delivered one of the season’s most dominant scoring outings, piling up 32 points on ultra-efficient shooting:
  6 threes, 10-of-12 at the stripe, and a perfect 2-for-2 inside.
• Anneli Maley was immense on the glass, finishing with a monstrous 19 rebounds, 13 points, and 6 assists — a classic all-effort Maley performance that set the tone early.
• Alex Ciabattoni provided a brilliant two-way outing with 21 points, 5 assists, and 66% from three.
• Han Xu was a problem inside and out: 19 points, two threes, and 83% at the line.

Perth’s balance was exceptional — five players scored nine or more — and their 12–0 biggest run reflected the game’s one-way momentum.

Flyers Standouts

Even in defeat, Southside had bright spots:

• Maddi Rocci fought tirelessly, leading the Flyers with 24 points, 8 assists, and efficient inside finishing.
• Cayla George posted another trademark double-double: 16 points and 15 rebounds, playing heavy minutes and anchoring Southside’s resistance.
• Bench contributions from Nya Lok (7 points) and Manuela Puoch (9 points) injected energy in the second half.

But the Flyers were undone by early defensive breakdowns and perimeter struggles, shooting just 8-of-35 from three (22.9%), while the Lynx punished them with 14 threes of their own.

Turning Points

• First-Half Surge: Perth’s 63–35 halftime lead effectively put the result beyond doubt.
• Three-Point Differential: Lynx +18 from deep created a margin the Flyers couldn’t counter.
• Rebounding Margin (39–49): Southside actually won the boards, but Perth converted more of their stops into transition and early offense.

Key Details

• Result: Perth Lynx 98 def. Southside Melbourne Flyers 81
• When: Thursday, 5th December 2025, 9:30 PM AEDT
• Where: Perth High Performance Centre, Perth
• Attendance: 3,121
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx) starred with 32 points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block in 31 minutes.
• Maddi Rocci (Southside Melbourne Flyers) scored 24 points, and had eight rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Lynx established early control with a commanding first half performance, leading 63-35 at the main break. They dominated the opening quarter 33-21 before extending their advantage with a stellar second period, outscoring the Flyers 30-14. Perth's explosive start proved decisive as they built an insurmountable lead that Melbourne could never seriously threaten.

Amy Atwell was absolutely on fire from downtown, connecting on six triples from 11 attempts while shooting a perfect 2-from-2 from inside the arc. Her 83% accuracy from the charity stripe (10-from-12) showcased her complete offensive arsenal. Alex Ciabattoni provided excellent support with 21 points on efficient 75% shooting from two-point range, adding five assists and four rebounds in a well-rounded performance.

Melbourne fought back valiantly in the second half, winning both the third quarter 25-23 and fourth quarter 21-12. Maddi Rocci led the Flyers' resistance with 24 points on solid 67% shooting from inside the arc, while adding eight dimes to orchestrate the offense. Cayla George contributed 16 points and dominated the glass with 15 boards, but their efforts came too late to seriously challenge Perth's commanding lead.

The key difference lay in three-point shooting accuracy. Perth connected on a solid 40% from beyond the arc (14-from-35), while Melbourne struggled from deep with a poor 23% conversion rate (eight-from-35). The Lynx's superior perimeter shooting created the decisive margin, as both teams shot similarly from the field overall - Perth at 52% and Melbourne at 51%.

Perth's balanced offensive attack featured four players reaching double digits, demonstrating a full team effort. Anneli Maley added 13 points and cleaned the glass with 19 rebounds, while Han Xu contributed 19 points with solid efficiency. The victory strengthened Perth's position in the WNBL standings, while Melbourne will need to address their three-point shooting woes to remain competitive.