Match Report: Lightning vs Rangers

6/NOV/2006 – The Adelaide Quit Lightning have beaten the Dandenong Rangers 71-68 to move to four wins and a single loss on the WNBL ladder.

Lauren King was the star for the Lightning, scoring 22 points for an equal game-high and just two points under her career best.

She had 11 points in the final quarter to secure the narrow victory, and had 16 points from Erin Phillips in support.

They were the only two Adelaide players in double figures as imports Tracy Gahan and Kristen Rasmussen attempted only eight field goals between them.

Captain Sam Woosnam contributed nine points as did Jess Foley.

It was the Rangers who pressed the advantage early, including an 11-0 run in the first quarter as they went to the first break up 17-22.

However, the Lightning outscored the visitors by 10 points during the second and third periods and then maintained the slender margin in the fourth. Phillips had a full court run to score on the third quarter buzzer and carried her charge into the fourth with 2 of 3 long bombs in the full ten minutes of the term.

For the Rangers, Jenna O'Hea had 22 points and six rebounds, and scored 11 points in the fourth to match King's effort. Larissa Cavanagh toiled hard in the first half to finish with 16 points and Caitlin Ryan was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line en route to 13 points.

King's three point shooting (4/7) with Phillips (2/5) was a story of the night as Adelaide had 8 of 23 for the game and 5 of 8 in the crucial final term. That contrasted with the Rangers 0/7 from long-range though Dandenong were an excellent 18/19 from the stripe missing just once in the first quarter.

Adelaide now move West to tackle the Perth Lynx in a couple of games next weekend while Dandenong return home to host the Townsville Fire.

Adelaide 71 (King 22, Phillips 16)
Dandenong 68 (O'Hea 22, Cavanagh 16, Ryan 13, Datson 10)