Having not played for more than 100 days, Ally Wilson has made a triumphant return from knee surgery, helping power the Perth Lynx to a 77-76 WNBL victory against the Geelong Venom.
At the Geelong Arena on Saturday night, Wilson scored 14 points and made four rebounds despite being restricted to just over 20 minutes of game time.
It was her first match back after undergoing a knee cartilage clean-out after winning Asian Cup gold with the Opals in July.
Star import Brianna Turner was also busy, securing a double-double (13 points, 16 rebounds).
Despite the impressive numbers from Wilson and Turner, Geelong didn't make it easy for the Lynx, manufacturing a one-point ball game with 14 seconds to go.
Venom's Mackenzie Holmes thought she had won the game by scoring on the buzzer, but the shot was too late and Perth came away with victory.
Victory means the Lynx (3-0) are the only side still unbeaten this season.
"I thought we did just enough to survive," Lynx coach Ryan Petrik said.
"We coasted for as long as we could, and then all of a sudden had to try and find second gear
"(Wilson) knew she only had 'x' number of minutes to play before she got yanked again.
"It's not pretty, and it's not being convincing by any stretch, but it's three (consecutive wins)."
Birthday girl Holmes also strengthened her case as an early contender to become the league's MVP after scoring 22 points and registering 16 rebounds.
Alex Sharp (11 points, nine rebounds) and Gemma Potter (16 points, six rebounds) also shone for the Venom, who were without Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard (concussion), Alissa Pili (ankle) and Shyla Heal (knee).
"We really deserved to win that, but we just weren't good enough," coach Chris Lucas said.
"(In the final seconds) we didn't need to shoot a three, but if Jaz Shelley is open, we want her shooting that shot.
"We took it up to them and had just a couple of lapses, but I'm not sure that I could ask for any more."
Geelong didn't score until the third minute, but then went on a 10-0 run to finish the first quarter trailing 20-15.
Turner starred for Perth in the second quarter, converting rebounds into points, while the Venom's Shelley and Sharp slotted baskets to trail by three points at halftime.
Both teams continued to trade baskets, before Holmes stepped up to create a one-point deficit at three-quarter time.
Perth shot out to an early six-point lead before Elissa Brett came off the bench to help Geelong peg back the lead.
The Venom fumbled three attempts before they were given one last chance, but they ran out of time.
