Townsville Fire end Lynx's unbeaten WNBL start

Sharpshooter Courtney Woods produced a near triple double in a standout performance as the shorthanded Townsville Fire ended Perth Lynx's unbeaten start to the WNBL season with a 99-86 victory.

The defending champions relied on slick ball movement to overcome woes from the three-point arc, where they shot just 10-of-31, at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on Tuesday night.

All their starters reached double figures with Woods tallying a superb all-round effort of 24 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

It was a tonic for the Fire (3-2) after a 86-83 round-one defeat in Perth in a frenetic rematch of last season's championship series.

"We've obviously had our fair share of adversity to start the season. Really happy with how the girls played today," Fire coach Shannon Seebohm said.

"I thought the ball movement was excellent. When we do it by committee, that's when we're at our best and the hardest to stop."

Fresh off a 10-day break, the Lynx's defence was out of sync and they struggled to contain the Fire's scoring options.

Anneli Maley continued her strong early season form with 19 points and 11 rebounds having missed the previous game between the teams due to WNBA duties with the New York Liberty.

Georgia Amoore (20 points and eight assists) provided support, but the Lynx (2-1) were plagued by early foul trouble to starters Teonni Key and Haley Peters.

"We warned our team (about the fouls). You're up against it unfortunately in Townsville," Lynx coach Ryan Petrik said.

"We knew that and let it happen anyway. And then let it get to us."

The Fire dug deep with three players on the injured list, including German international Marie Gulich who limped off in their 91-68 win over Bendigo.

They were also without Opal Miela Sowah, who has been on a player development contract with newly-minted WNBA champions Golden State Valkyries.

Woods was electric with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in a high-octane first quarter.

She fuelled the Fire's early 12-3 lead against a sluggish Lynx, who battled back in the second quarter through the two-way efforts of Maley.

The Fire finally heated up from deep with Woods and Lauren Jensen nailing two apiece amid a 13-2 run midway through a dominant third quarter for the home team.

They had all the answers down the stretch to thwart the Lynx's attempts at a comeback.