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THE Fire made it 14 wins on the trot yesterday in Perth when they sent the Lynx into mothballs by claiming Game 2 in their best-of-three semi final series 91-84 to complete the sweep, import Tianna Hawkins leading Townsville into the Grand Final Series where it awaits the Southside-Melbourne series winner. 

Hawkins has been one of the stars of WNBL Season 2022-23 and shone in Game 2 with 23 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

Lauren Nicholson paired 15 points with seven assists as Townsville looked to make short work of the Lynx.

That was before Sami Whitcomb and Lauren Scherf led a spirited Perth revival and Chloe Bibby found her range with 18 points at 58 per cent. 

Her 4-of-5 threes were huge in the comeback as Perth fans found voice and the Lynx closed in during the third quarter.

But while Fire coach Shannon Seebohm chose to rest Game 1 star Steph Reid, Shyla Heal exploded offensively, her big baskets in the second half taking the wind out of the Lynx's resurgence.

Perth fought the series out gamely but was overwhelmed by Townsville's myriad offensive options, the Fire into the Grand Final Series, the Lynx off to play the links.

WNBL SEMI FINAL SERIES (Best-of-3)
TOWNSVILLE FIRE (1) v PERTH LYNX (4)
Game 1: FIRE 81 (Reid 24, Heal 14, Samuelson 13, Hawkins 11; Ruef 12 rebs; Ruef, Reid 3 assts) d LYNX 68 (Whitcomb 22, Scherf 18, Ryan 10; Atwell 9 rebs; Whitcomb, Scherf 5 assts) at Townsville Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 2,989
Game 2: FIRE 91 (Hawkins 23, Nicholson, Heal 15, Ruef 14, Reid 11; Hawkins, Ruef 8 rebs; Nicholson 7 assts) d LYNX 84 (Whitcomb 26, Bibby 18, Scherf, Ryan 13; Bibby 7 rebs; Whitcomb 7 assts) at Bendat Basketball Stadium. Crowd: 1,212

Townsville wins series 2-0