Match Report: Lightning change form, beat Boomers

16/FEB/2009 – The Adelaide Lightning have shown hope for the finals after beating the Bulleen Boomers 77-64 at the Distinctive Homes Dome on Saturday night.

After two losses last weekend the Lightning were desperate to turnaround their form and grab a win over a top-five team heading into the finals.

Bulleen's shooting let them down; the best three-point shooters in the league shot just 6-of-23 from the arc at 26 per cent well below their usual 40 per cent.

The Boomers showed their vulnerability in their first game without forward Shelley Hammonds who has been ruled out for the season after an anterior cruciate ligament injury. But Hammonds' inside partner Elyse Penaluna rallied to lead the Bulleen with 22 points and eight rebounds.

Adelaide forward Tracy Gahan dominated with a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds, support by Captain Samantha Woosnam with 16 points and seven rebounds and Cayla Francis with 19 points and 4 rebounds.

But the signs are not all good yet for the Lightning who have struggled in the second half of the season; Jessica Foley and Angela Marino struggled, only managing 13 points between them but both usually average 16 and 13.8 points per game respectively.

The win secures fourth place for Adelaide, and a home court for their elimination final against the Bendigo Spirit on Wednesday February 25th.

Adelaide Lightning 77 (Tracy Gahan 24, Cayla Francis 19, Samantha Woosnam 16)
Bulleen Boomers 64 (Elyse Penaluna 22, Lisa Pardon 11, Katrina Hibbert 8)