Match Report: Flames soar over Adelaide

19/NOV/2006 – For the second consecutive weekend the G.E.T. Sydney Uni Flames have beaten the top team in the defencejobs WNBL.

This time around, the Flames had no problems with the Adelaide QUIT Lightning, grabbing a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never looking back en route to an 87-70 victory at the Sydney University Aquatic Center.

Sydney improved to 6-2 with the victory, just a half game back of Adelaide (now 7-2). Last weekend Sydney destroyed then-first place Canberra 84-67.

Sydney hurt Adelaide with two huge first-half spurts. Trailing 14-8 midway through the opening quarter, the Flames went on a 15-2 run to grab a 23-16 lead before the Lightning scored the final basket of the quarter to make it 23-18.

Mikaela Dombkins came off the bench to spark the run, scoring six straight points on a mid-range jumper, a 3-pointer and a free throw, which gave Sydney its first lead at 17-16.

Then, leading just 27-23 three minutes into the second quarter, the Flames struck again, scoring 15 consecutive points to take a commanding 42-23 lead. This time point guard Alicia Poto was the sparkplug, scoring on three consecutive possessions. The 166-cm Poto showed her versatility, first dropping a 3-pointer, then making a mid-range jumper and finally slicing between defenders for a layup plus a foul.

Sydney took a 48-28 lead into the locker room, and Adelaide didn't get closer than 15 in the second half until the final three minutes.

Adelaide coach Chris Lucas wasn't making excuses, but he admitted that a hard-fought 86-80 victory over Townsville last night - in which four Adelaide starters played 34-plus minutes - might have taken its toll on the Lightning.

The biggest indication of this was Sydney outrebounding Adelaide 46-41. It was the first time this season the Lightning were outrebounded. Also, the Lightning turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 28 Sydney points.

"Last night some girls played some major minutes, and that's not an excuse, but I still feel that's a factor," Lucas said.

Sydney was also very strong on the offensive glass, turning 18 rebounds into 13 second-chance points. Natalie Porter led a balanced scoring effort with 15 points. Michelle Musselwhite and Poto each poured in 13 and Dombkins added 12, including three 3-pointers.

Sydney entered the contest with six players averaging double figures and the Flames showed their balance, as eight players scored at least six points. The Flames also dished out 21 assists on their 31 made field goals.

Adaleide was led by Jessica Foley, who scored 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Erin Phillips added 18 points.

The tale of the game could have been told in one possession early in the fourth quarter when the Flames missed three straight shots, but were able to chase down each rebound before Georgia Woodyard finally made a layup. Sydney was simply quicker to the ball than Adaleide.

"Our goal was to make sure we came out with a lot of energy," Dalton said. I don't think we did that in the first couple of minutes, but I think we addressed that as the game went along."

Next weekend Sydney will head back on the road to face Bulleen Melbourne on Friday night and Dandenong on Saturday night while Adaleide, after playing two straight road doubleheaders, will return home to host Canberra.

By Jake Lloyd for WNBL media