WNBL Cayla George becomes WNBL’s best-ever rebounder, Perth Lynx slide

Cayla George has become the WNBL’s all-time leader in rebounds but her efforts weren’t enough to prevent the Sydney Flames from falling 82-66 to the Bendigo Spirit in Round 4.

The Flames recruit, a newly-minted WNBA champion with Las Vegas Aces, pulled down eight rebounds in the first quarter of Saturday’s clash alone and finished with 13 to go with 14 points.

George’s last board of the game was the 3230th of her WNBL career, hoisting her past three-time Olympian Rachael Sporn as the most prolific player for the stat since the league formed in 1981.

The reigning WNBL MVP is ranked fifth for rebounds in the league this season, averaging 8.6 per game from four starts.

The Spirit parlayed a 28-9 third quarter into their first victory of the season at home, with Alicia Froling and Casey Samuels each racking up 17 points and seven rebounds from the bench.

Opals captain Tess Madgen made her Flames club debut after knee soreness delayed her start to the season.

The guard finished with five rebounds and seven points from three of 10 field-goal shooting.

The Melbourne Boomers are now the WNBL’s only unbeaten team after defeating last-placed Canberra Capitals by six points in overtime.

Keely Froling (17 points, 14 rebounds) tied the game at 76 with a lay-up in the final seconds of Sunday’s game and once in overtime, the Boomers went on a late 5-1 run that sealed their 87-81 win.

American recruit Naz Hillmon top-scored with 33 points to go with 13 boards as the Boomers improved to 5-0.

Previously undefeated Perth Lynx suffered back-to-back losses in Round 4, coughing up double-digit leads in both games.

Perth led by as many as 21 points in the second quarter against Southside Flyers on Wednesday before Lauren Jackson’s side rallied in the third.

The Flyers cut the deficit to only seven points at the final change and Rebecca Cole’s three in the final 20 seconds gave them their first lead since the opening quarter.

Southside held on to win 94-92 before their home fans.

Australian basketball legend Jackson came within an inch of her first double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Reigning champions the Townsville Fire fought back in the second half to win 92-76 against the Lynx in Perth later in the round.

Zitina Aokusko (18 points, eight rebounds) took the lead for the Fire just after the main break and they never again trailed, improving their record to 4-1.