Townsville Upset Perth to take Game 1 of the Semi Finals
Announcement posted by Basketball Australia 22 Feb 2025
Game Summary
Semi Final: Game 1 - Perth Lynx vs Townsville Fire
In an epic Game 1 of the Semi Finals, Townsville Fire came out on top with a nail-biting win over Perth Lynx, with Nia Coffey putting on a sensational performance, finishing with 36 points.
The game had an electric start, with both teams showing signs of nerves early on, leading to a few shot clock violations. Perth had the advantage last week, winning a thriller to claim home court advantage in the finals series. This made for a highly anticipated matchup, marking the third consecutive year these two teams have met in the finals—a rivalry that's become notoriously competitive.
Townsville seized momentum in the first quarter thanks to some magic from Coffey, who sank a buzzer-beater 3-pointer and finished with 13 points at the break. However, Perth fought back strong with tight defense and reduced the lead to single digits. Despite Nia Coffey being in foul trouble with 3 fouls, Townsville powered through and extended the lead back out to 11 points.
In the second quarter, Ally Wilson was instrumental for Perth, playing a brilliant few minutes to bring the margin back down to just 5 points, but Townsville held strong to lead by 7 at halftime.
In the third, Coffey continued her stellar performance, hitting the 26-point mark as the game began to swing. Perth made a strong push to tie the game, but Townsville held a slim 2-point lead at the final break.
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with Perth briefly taking the lead before Townsville quickly reclaimed it. Several clutch shots down the stretch secured the win for Townsville, including a huge 3 pointer from the star of the night - Nia Coffey (36 points), giving the Fire a crucial Game 1 victory.
Game 2 will be on Wednesday in Townsville as the series heads back to their home court.
Score
Perth Lynx (87) defeated by Townsville Fire (92)
Venue
Bendat Basketball Centre, Perth
Best photo
Abbey Ellis of the Fire celebrates after a play during game one of the WNBL Semi Final series
Game Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs6miVuhOM8
Game Stats
Game images
Getty (all WNBL images this season)