Anneli Maley has enhanced her compelling case toward a second WNBL MVP title, overshadowing Mackenzie Holmes' season record-breaking performance as her Perth Lynx thumped the Geelong Venom 106-78.
Lynx captain Maley grabbed a fifth consecutive double-double (22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists) at the Perth High Performance Centre on Sunday night.
The performance comes as she averages more than 13 points and leads the competition's rebounds tally with 13.79 per game.
In the 2021/22 season, when Maley claimed the MVP award, she averaged 16.24 points and 10.95 rebounds playing for Bendigo Spirit.
"She (Maley) just keeps adding experience to her bow. So she's always been an elite rebounder, and she's always busted her backside," coach Ryan Petrik said.
"She's a jack of all trades now. I don't really know what she's not good at.
"Her playmaking has been huge. We have two combo guards, in Ally (Wilson) and (Alex) Ciabattoni and now there's essentially a third one."
But the Olympian wasn't the only player making a statement, as American Holmes broke the season's points-scoring record, firing 34 points along with nine rebounds to eclipse her own 33-point tally in round two.
It comes after Holmes hadn't scored more than 20 points in the Venom's last four games.
Shyla Heal also grabbed 20 points, but their efforts weren't enough for Geelong (3-12) as they suffered their eighth straight loss, after star forward Alissa Pili was ruled out with illness.
"We had a plan and we didn't follow it," coach Chris Lucas said
"I was pretty happy with our second half ... our execution was so much better."
Having won their last five games by more than 22 points going into the match, Sunday's clash was no different, as the Lynx dominated from the outset, transforming defensive pressure into points.
Towering Chinese superstar Han Xu has not lost since joining the Lynx and she was typically influential, making 22 points.
Her efforts, laced with double-digit performances by Opals Amy Atwell and Wilson, helped the Lynx (11-3) notch their sixth straight win to sit one victory behind the ladder leaders Bendigo Spirit.
"I thought we generated really good looks, and then generally got the scout right," Petrik said.
"The schemes feel a lot more black and white this year defensively, and the roles are a lot more clearly defined."
Han and Maley helped Perth start fast, opening up a 12-point gap at quarter-time.
Atwell continued to sink threes while Maley reached a double-double even before Perth led 60-38 at the main break.
The Lynx went on a 9-2 run to start the third quarter, and although Geelong began to find momentum after that, it wasn't enough as Perth secured the win
