A cameo by
Perth (11-4) remain the team to beat ahead of the Christmas break but the Flames (10-5) were the ones feeling festive after jumping to second thanks to a remarkable comeback away win over a fuming Melbourne Boomers on Saturday night.
Sydney at one stage trailed by 21 points before Samuels pulled off two telling plays, making her 22-minute presence count in the 65-62 win.
First Samuels slotted a three-pointer in the final minute following a bench technical foul by Boomers coach Guy Molloy to give her side the lead.
Then with 15 seconds left Samuels took a charge from Brittany Smart as the Boomers' American guard appeared ready to slot the matchwinner.
Still, the Boomers had a shot at victory but Maddie Garrick's last gasp attempt missed and the Flames claimed a memorable win to leapfrog defending WNBL champs Townsville (9-5) for second spot.
The Flames also downed the Spirit in Bendigo 67-64 on Friday night.
Boomers coach Molloy could be seen arguing with referees after the loss to Sydney before storming off.
But he bit his tongue post match when asked about his telling bench technical foul.
"I don't know (Tahlia) Tupaea travelled and I called for a travel then next thing I know it's a technical foul - I can't say too much," he told reporters.
Townsville are third after Sunday's 70-61 home win over Dandenong (fourth; 8-6).
Townsville bounced back from a shock 95-75 loss to South East Queensland Stars at Logan on Friday night.
Dandenong opened with a Friday night 76-70 win over the third-last Boomers.
Perth are still sitting pretty on top of the WNBL ladder ahead of the Christmas break with action set to resume on December 31.
They thrashed the dead-last and still winless Canberra Capitals 88-68 on Friday night.
The Lynx have now won more games than the combined total from their past three seasons in which they finished last in each.
The once mighty Canberra missed a golden chance to snap their record club losing run when they fell short 75-68 to second-last Adelaide on Saturday night, capping their weekend away double.
The Capitals led by eight points with seven minutes left but still succumbed, ensuring they have lost all 15 matches this season to date.
