Match Report: Lightning too hot for AIS

11/DEC/2006 – It was a stinking hot day in Adelaide but it was the Quit Lightning who turned up the heat for a comfortable 72-47 win over the AIS at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

With Canberra suffering an unexpected loss, the Lightning seized their chance to grab outright first place, although the Institute troubled Adelaide early, with Marianna Tolo in particular working over its frontcourt.

But a quick 7-0 run featuring Jess Foley, Erin Phillips and Lauren King bumped Adelaide out to 19-8 as the home side's confidence began to grow.

"I wasn't happy with our first quarter," Lightning coach Chris Lucas said. "We had seven turnovers which was more than we had for the rest of the game."

Adelaide's 14-5 boards edge was substantial in compensating its lack of ball discipline and it began to pull away in the second period.

Cayla Francis was making some keyway impressions but when Lightning skipper Sam Woosnam drained a triple with 3:17 left, the lead was out to 33-19.

Phillips then went to work, scoring Adelaide's last seven points to the halftime break, giving her 14 at 75 per cent and helping create the 40-23 buffer.

Woosnam's trademark blue-collar offensive rebound putback with 7:29 to play in the third was her seventh point, taking her over the magical 1,000-career points mark.

She only needed six when the game started but would finish with nine points, a game-high 11 rebounds and four assists. Foley's free throw at 6:46 had Adelaide out 45-25.

But AIS had switched into a 3-2 zone and the alignment brought Adelaide's offence to a grinding halt. In the meantime Tolo, Katie Ebzery and Francis helped manufacture a 9-0 run to bring AIS back within a sniff at 34-45.

Foley's three quickly snuffed that sniff, Narelle Lindsay following with a triple of her own and Foley making it a hat-trick of three-pointers.

The visitors had their last gasp at 2:03 when Francis brought the score to 36-48.

But the avalanche had begun, Lindsay creating a bucket for Brigid Bowley and Woosnam hitting a long attempt to close the period at 58-36.

King opened the final quarter with a jumpshot and Adelaide had gone on a 12-0 run for 60-36 before Mia Newley finally broke the drought.

"Defensively we were very good there for about eight minutes," AIS coach Dean Kinsman said. "I played the same group together but I think they all hit the wall at the same time."

Adelaide cleared its bench - Foley with 16 points at 60 per cent not even seeing last quarter action - and Phillips returned to create baskets for grateful team-mates Erin Lorenzini and Kate Jenner.

Tolo led the AIS with a game-high 18 points at 78 per cent.

"She's a kid I think could go all the way," Kinsman said. "She's got good hands, she's a good athlete and she's got a good feel for the game."

Standing 196cm doesn't hurt either.

Despite finally reaching the WNBL summit, Lucas was cautious post-game, happy with the win and with the contribution of his deep bench.

"Their zone showed us an area we need work but overall I was pretty happy," he said.

ADELAIDE QUIT LIGHTNING 72 (J Foley 16, E Phillips 14, S Woosnam 9)
AIS 47 (M Tolo 18, C Francis 9, K Ebzery 8)
at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

By Cliff Warner for WNBL Media