Match Report: Lightning steal win in Dandenong

8/DEC/2008 – Caitlin Ryan had a chance to either beat Adelaide or force overtime when she stepped to the free-throw line with just six seconds left on the clock on Saturday night at Stud Rd.

But the Rangers veteran guard did neither. She missed both attempts and allowed the first place Lightning to escape with a hard-earned 63-62 victory.

Adelaide led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, but the Rangers came roaring back after their miserable start and hit the front in the third quarter thanks to Ryan, who knocked down back-to-back three-pointers.

The Rangers took a two-point advantage into the final quarter and through the play of Ryan and star centre Jennifer Benningfield, who scored a game-high 19 points, withstood a barrage of Jessica Foley three-pointers to lead by a point with less than a minute to go.

Ryan had a chance to give the Rangers a three-point lead but missed a shot, which was pulled down by Foley. Adelaide called a time-out and set up forward Tracey Gahan who scored with 11 seconds left to give the Lightning the lead.

After a Dandenong time-out, Ryan was fouled by Rebecca Duke and went to the free-throw line. Adelaide grabbed the rebound of the second miss and with it its 10th win in 11 outings while the win one, lose one Rangers slipped back to the .500 mark at 5-5.

Adelaide is tough enough to beat on even terms, let alone with a 10-point head-start, which is what it was gifted by the host Rangers.

The locals missed their first 11 shots of the game to fall behind 10-0 and despite making just two-of-18 from the floor in the opening quarter trailed by only 11 points at the end of the quarter.

The Rangers finally began to find the mark in the second quarter. Benningfield hit her first two shots of the term, her only two baskets in the first half, to cut the lead to seven.

The first-placed Lightning then blew the lead out to 15 points a third of the way through the quarter, but the Rangers dug themselves out of the massive hole thanks to Claire Papavs and Emily McInerny.

Papavs came off the bench and scored five straight points while McInerny made block after block, hauled in loose balls and got herself onto the scoresheet with a clutch bucket. Benningfield hit a pair of free throws in the last minute to send the Rangers to the changerooms seven points in arrears, 32-25.

Adelaide center Cayla Francis led the visitors in the first half with eight points and eight rebounds.

Rangers coach Dale Waters went to his bench early and often to find a combination that clicked. All but Hope Terdich and Cassie Dover played in the first half.

The Rangers biggest lead of the game - four points - was in the frantic last quarter.

A Katie Ebzery three-pointer gave the Rangers a 57-53 edge which was whittled away nearly single handily by Foley, who scored 11 points with the game up for grabs.

Foley scored 13 points on the night and Gahan 18. Cayla Francis chipped in with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Gahan pulled down 10 rebounds while Benningfield snared 15 for the Rangers.

Ryan and Nicole Hunt scored 10 points each but were a combined eight-of-25 from the floor. Alison Downie (zero-for-six) did not score but collected seven rebounds.

Benningfield was just five-of-16 from the floor, but sank nine-of-10 from the free-throw line. She and Ryan were the only two Rangers to get to the line.

Adelaide tries to complete the Melbourne double on Sunday afternoon against Bulleen. The Rangers host Townsville on Friday night.

Adelaide Lightning 63 (Tracy Gahan 18, Jessica Foley 13, Cayla Francis 12)) def Dandenong Rangers 62 (Jennifer Benningfield 19, Caitlin Ryan 10, Nicole Hunt 10)

By Marty Shevelove for WNBL Media