Match Report: Lightning spoil Rangers at home

25/OCT/2008 – Dandenong made Adelaide work hard for its fourth straight win of the young season, but the Lightning had all the answers down the stretch and walked off with an 80-66 win on Friday night to spoil the Rangers home opener.

The Rangers, sporting pink uniforms in support of the fight against breast cancer, trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half before making a run in the final quarter.

Sparked by Jennifer Benningfield and Alison Downie, the Rangers got as close as three points off the lead, 61-58, on a Benningfield bucket with six minutes left in the game.

Adelaide then went on a 7-0 run thanks to Kayla Francis and Tracey Gahan to boost the lead back up to double figures. The Rangers had their chances, but missed shot after shot in the closing minutes to sink to 1-2.

Benningfield, the Rangers American import, picked up three quick fouls early in the second quarter and was forced to the bench. She wound up with 21 points. Downie scored a season-high 13 points while guard Caitlin Ryan added 12. Ryan though was just three-of-15 from the floor.

Jessica Foley led the Lightning with 20 points. She was just seven-of-24 from the field, but knocked down four-of-seven from three-point range. Angela Marino added 18 points and Francis 16.

Adelaide controlled the boards. Former Ranger Marita Payne pulled down 12 rebounds, Francis 11 and Foley 10.

Adelaide went to the fee-throw line 30 times, making 25 while the Rangers were 11-of-16 from the line.

Foley said the Lightning were "pretty lucky in the end.''

"They played so tough and I was really proud of the way we dug in in that last quarter.

"We had been dying at the end of games so it was very good to come away with the win.

"We have such a good inside game now, Kayla presents so well inside and we have to run our plays to get her the ball in a good position to score. We are probably a little more structured than the team last year and it shows at the end of the game,'' Foley said.

The Lightning back up on Sunday when they play Bulleen while the Rangers will try and regroup next Saturday at Perth.

Adelaide Lightning 80 - Jessica Foley 20, Angela Marino 18, Cayla Francis 16
Dandenong Rangers 66 - Jennifer Benningfield 21, Alison Downie 13, Caitlin Ryan 12

By Marty Shevelove for WNBL media