Lynx Sink Their Claws Into Southside in Statement Win

Perth have inflicted a 111-79 thrashing on Southside Melbourne, whose poor record against WNBL heavyweights is threatening to ruin their finals chances.

The Lynx shone in a game-defining 34-13 second quarter on Tuesday to lead by 24 points at the main break, having been up by only three after the first term.

Things only became uglier as Ally Wilson (21 points, eight assists) hit five of five three-point attempts for the third term and pushed the Lynx way ahead of their hosts.

Stephanie Gorman (17 points) had triggered the carnage with two back-to-back triples of her own in the second term, while Anneli Maley (25 points, 14 rebounds) had her way in the paint, equalling her season-high haul of points.

The result eclipsed a 26-point loss against Canberra to become the Flyers' heaviest defeat of the season but things could have been worse as Perth led by as many as 44 in the second half.

Veteran centre Cayla George (nine points) was the Flyers' only consistent scoring threat while the game was in the balance, and things weren't any better on the defensive end.

Southside had already leaked more than their average for games this season - 78.1 points - with three-and-a-half minutes remaining before three-quarter time.

Perth lost Han Xu to knee and back soreness in the second quarter but the towering centre is expected to face Bendigo on Sunday when the Lynx continue their top-two push.

The fourth-placed Flyers finish round 15 having lost to all three of the sides above them on the ladder in the past week.

They have won only one of nine games combined against Perth, Bendigo and Townsville this season. In comparison, last-placed Geelong have two wins against those top-three sides.

Southside would have all but guaranteed a top-four finish already with just two more wins among those nine clashes.

Instead, they have the same 8-12 record as fifth-placed Canberra, the only other team still in contention for the last remaining finals spot.

Southside risk slipping out of the top four by the end of next weekend, with next Tuesday's clash against the Caps potentially season-defining.

Lynx guard Alex Ciabattoni suffered a black eye colliding with Nya Lok in the first half but played on to add 20 points for the game.