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NIA Coffey, who was not even part of Townsville's original roster for WNBL 2024-25, last night in Perth put the Fire within one win of the championship series before regular season champion Bendigo today continued on its merry way, seizing a 1-0 semi final lead over Sydney.

The Fire head home for Wednesday night's Game 2 in Townsville on the back of Coffey's 36-point haul in a classic 92-87 road win over a Lynx team unable to find any consistent way to stop her.

And while a depleted Sydney, which lost Shaneice Swain within three minutes of the second quarter, showed great heart and desire to push Bendigo at home to a 67-76 loss in Game 1, it never was in doubt.

But while that result looks encouraging, truth is this was over at halftime when the Spirit led 51-28, league MVP Sami Whitcomb the standout with 20 points at the interval.

Starting with plenty of pluck, the Flames fumbled a seven-point lead in the early going after Cayla George and Swain stuck a couple of positive baskets.

But George, en route to five turnovers, had a pair of shockers on inbounds passes which led to back and morale-breaking Bendigo baskets as Whitcomb led the unrelenting charge.

Veronica Burton was active at both ends for the Spirit and when Abbey Wehrung hit the court, she made her first three 3-point attempts.

This was done and dusted at the long break but the Flames kept plugging away while, whether intentionally or not, Bendigo figuratively put the cue in the rack.

Whitcomb finished with a double-double of 26 points, 11 boards, Kelsey Griffin grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, Burton on 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in a quality all-around game.

Tahlia Tupaea led Sydney's scoring with 4-of-7 threes in her 16 points, George's 14 on 5-of-13 shooting, Swain still bagging seven points in limited time, players such as Carla Pitman offering good service with six points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal.

But this series looks sure to end in Sydney on Thursday.

Whether Perth can repeat its overtime win over the Fire in Townsville in Game 2 as it did to close the regular season is debatable.

Dealing with initial foul issues, Coffey served up a tasty Americano when next she had the chance, grinding Perth's attempts to contain her into the ground.

She had plenty of allies, Courtney Woods pairing 17 points with 10 assists, Alex Fowler's 14 points off the bench at 71 per cent, accompanied by six rebounds, an assist and a block invaluable.

Laeticia Amihere kept Perth's offence active in the face of Townsville's onslaught, while Ally Wilson produced an outstanding performance with 32 points at 64 per cent and nine assists.

Anneli Maley (15 rebounds) was largely irrelevant offensively and Amy Atwell looked challenged defensively by road cones.

Atwell hit some quick threes in Perth's comeback which clawed the Lynx all the way back to 66-66 before Coffey beat the clock to close the third period with a triple.

Perth inexplicably starting Steph Gorman (3 points, 1-of-4 shooting), Miela Sowah (8 points, 3-of-11 shooting) and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard (0 points, 0-of-5) for the fourth meant Townsville quickly rushed its lead back out to 77-68, forcing Wilson to again lead a charge back to contention.

Her 3-ball with 2:10 left even gave Perth the lead 85-84, Fowler and Coffey then restoring the Fire's buffer for the duration and swinging the best-of-three series momentum to Townsville.

SEMI FINAL (1v4) BENDIGO SPIRIT v SYDNEY FLAMES

Game 1 – Bendigo Spirit 76 (Whitcomb 26, Burton 19, Wehrung, Tolo 10; Griffin 12 rebs; Burton 4 assts) d Sydney Flames 67 (Tupaea 16, George 14, Swain 7; Pitman, George 5 rebs; Pitman 5 assts) at Red Energy Arena, Bendigo. Crowd: 1,514. Bendigo lead series 1-0

Game 2 – Thursday, February 27, 7pm (AEDT) – Quaycentre, Sydney

Game 3 (if required) – Sunday, March 2, 2:30pm (AEDT) – Red Energy Arena, Bendigo

SEMI FINAL (2v3) PERTH LYNX v TOWNSVILLE FIRE

Game 1 – Townsville Fire 92 (Coffey 36, Woods 17, Fowler 14, Froling 10; Froling 8 rebs; Woods 10 assts) d Perth Lynx 87 (Wilson 32, Amihere 20, Atwell 11; Maley 15 rebs; Wilson 9 assts) at Bendat Basketball Centre, Perth. Crowd: 1,496. Townsville leads series 1-0

Game 2 – Wednesday, February 26, 6:30pm (AEST) – Townsville Entertainment Centre

Game 3 (if required) – Saturday, March 1, 5pm (AWST) – Bendat Basketball Centre, Perth

The Cygnett WNBL Grand Final Series Dates

Game 1 – Wednesday, March 5 – Time TBC

Game 2 – Sunday, March 9 – Time TBC

Game 3 (if required) – Wednesday, March 12 – Time TBC