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MVP runner up Maley dominates Borlase's Bendigo
Anneli Maley of the Lynx powers to the rim during Game 1 of the WNBL Semi Final series between Perth Lynx and Bendigo Spirit at Perth High Performance Centre on February 14, 2026 in Perth. Photo: James Worsfold/Getty Images
Highlights
Anneli Maley dominates as Ryan Petrik’s pressure defence fuels Perth’s 86–76 Game 1 win.
- Michele Timms breaks down Semi-Finals chess matches
- Brilliant Isobel Borlase joins Australia's elite 21-club MVPs
- Latest WNBL Scores and Schedule here
Perth Lynx head coach Ryan Petrik’s game plan was simple — disrupt the defending champion Bendigo Spirit for 40 minutes in Game 1 of their WNBL26 semi-final series in Perth on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
It also helped to have MVP runner-up Anneli Maley, who had 18 points at halftime. Perth then resisted an early Spirit 6-0 run just after half-time, turning the quarter into a 19-10 arm wrestle before pulling away to claim the 1-0 series lead 86-76.
Maley finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.
“It’s so tough, this series will be a game of peaks and runs; it was a quality game of basketball,” Maley said.
But it wasn’t without a Spirit fightback in the fourth as they hit three straight threes to get within six, 73-67 with 4:30 to go. But Perth gathered its composure, and the hole was just too deep for Bendigo, as Ally Wilson buried a dagger three with 3:24 to go off Amy Atwell’s offensive rebound to make it 78-69.
basketball.com.au’s Bec Cole said in commentary: “That’s a shot that breaks your heart”.
Lynx guard Alex Ciabattoni all but ended it with another three-ball from the corner off Han Xu’s assist to push the lead to 81-69 with 2:36 left.
Wilson called “game” as Cole declared with another three-ball with 50 seconds left to make it 84-74.
Key Details
- Result: Perth Lynx 86 def. Bendigo Spirit 76
- When: Saturday, 14th February 2026
- Where: Perth High Performance Centre, Perth
Petrik trapped Bendigo’s backcourt after scores, forced multiple turnovers and delayed the Spirit’s ability to get into their offence early in the shot clock. Petrik also switched — but not often — into the 1-3-1 zone that Bendigo had struggled with coming in.
When the Spirit did get to the rim, it blew layups and, combined with struggling to get any rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, struggled to maintain scoreboard pressure.
Bendigo shot 20-47 (42%) from two while Perth shot 15-33 (45%) from inside the arc.
Perth led 29-22 after one, 48-42 at the half and 67-52 at three-quarter time.
Petrik’s scout on WNBL26 MVP Isobel Borlase, 21, was outstanding, but the star guard still had 22 on 7-from-24 from the field, despite struggling from deep (1-from-7).
Game 2 is on Tuesday in Bendigo.
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