Lynx hold strong to overcome Spirit

Point guard Georgia Amoore has hit top gear to help the Perth Lynx overcome a "yucky" scare to beat an understrength Bendigo Spirit 94-84.

Having spent the last week ruing a 13-point loss to the reigning WNBL champions Townsville Fire, the Lynx entered the Perth High Performance Centre on Tuesday wanting to bounce back in emphatic fashion.

The home team were heavy favourites to do so, considering the Spirit had brought just eight players to Western Australia and hadn't won a game this season.

But Bendigo began courageously, exposing the Lynx's timid defence to trail 53-51 at halftime.

The Spirit continued to stay in touch and closed the deficit to four points midway through the final period, but Perth (3-1) dug deep to secure the win.

Amoore was at the centre of the victory, as the Washington Mystics star recorded 27 points, six threes and six assists while Anneli Maley (14 points, 13 rebounds) was also busy in the rematch of last season's semi-final.

"Just yuck. It was just one of those that was really hard to get out of there alive," coach Ryan Petrik said.

"In theory, you should beat them when you're at full strength, and they're missing so many people. Full credit to Bendigo. They were brilliant."

Bendigo (0-5) were without defensive star Abbey Wehrung after she announced her pregnancy. Experienced head Kelly Wilson (personal) and Izzy Borlase (WNBA) were also missing.

Centre Marianna Tolo (23 points, seven rebounds) rolled back the years while battling an Achilles injury, while Opal Jade Melbourne was prolific, posting 21 points, 12 assists and two steals.

But the visitors were ultimately left to lament conceding 13 triples and 14 offensive rebounds.

"That's all you can ask for, right?" coach Kennedy Kereama said.

"I've got to give Jade a lot of credit because, given our current situation ... we're asking a lot of her physically."

Tolo fired the Spirit's first nine points, but the Lynx took a 33-31 lead into quarter-time after Amoore sank four triples.

Perth went on an 8-0 run early in the second quarter, but Bendigo shot the lights out to keep the gap to two points at the main break.

The Lynx started the third quarter hot to balloon their advantage to double digits, and despite Melbourne's best efforts, the home team led 80-70 at three-quarter time.

The visitors desperately tried to take the lead, but Perth held them to three points in the final two minutes to seal the victory.