Match Report: Lightning over power Lynx

8/OCT/2007 – The Adelaide 'Link' Lightning have tonight defeated the Go For 2&5 Perth Lynx 78-57 at Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium.

The new look Lynx opened their season without Head Coach Joe McKay, leaving Assistant Jason Kyle to take the reigns of the team against the pre season title favourites, Adelaide, and it was tough initiation indeed.

A lack of genuine size looked like a problem for Perth on paper, and towering Lightning pivot Jenny Whittle proved it a reality with a dominant display on the board, hauling in 5 rebounds in the first term alone while Perth as an entire team managed just seven for the quarter.

The Lightning won the first term 24-14, and by half time they had extending their lead by a further 4 points, while also owning the rebound count 29 to 16, Whittle with eight.

Perth rallied behind skipper Carly Wilson and star recruit Eleanor Haring in the third quarter to win the term by two, 17-15, but could simply not compete with the Lightning on the glass and it proved their undoing, as they allowed Adelaide 15 second chane opportunities for the night from offensive boards and were comprehensively trumped 57-33 overall in that category.

The Lightning won the final term 20-12 pushing their lead out to a game high 21 points when the final siren sounded, not reflecting the closeness of the contest throughout.

Tracey Gahan had an impressive night with 17 points and 11 boards, and was singled out as Adelaide's most valuable player by Lynx Coach, Jason Kyle after the game, though she received great support from Renae Camino with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Whittle with 6 points, 11 boards and 4 asissts.

Kyle named Eleanor Haring as the Lynx's best on the night, as she toiled hard for her 13 points and 3 boards, while Carly Wilson was typically influential with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals and Tanya Kelly earned the coahces praise for the spark she provided off the bench for the Lynx.

Adelaide's next game is against Dandenong on Friday night while Perth also play the Rangers as their next opponent, hosting them in Perth on Sunday 14 October at 2.00pm.

The Lynx are set to embark on a gruelling part of their schedule that sees them play the Rangers Sunday followed by Bendigo Wednesday night and then they fly to Darwin to tackle the Townsville Fire on Saturday.

By Ross Williams for WNBL Media