Maddie Allen (pictured) and Nadeen Payne held "Ms Double Double" (far left) in the first half but she exploded after half-time for 7 points and 14 rebounds to strongly influence the outcome of the result - Photo by Adelaide Lightning
THE WRAP Q BY Q
The first quarter was pretty standard with some up and down play but Lynx forward Nadeen Payne was finding her range early with some timely triples. Skipper Nicole Seekamp was making sure all her team-mates were being fed well before finals including the highlight of the first quarter finding an open court Chelsea Brook with the half court find in transition. The Lightning leading by a slim margin of 21-18 after one.
A burst to open the second from young gun Nes’eya Williams got the Lynx going with Lauren Mansfield also causing plenty of headaches for particularly Lauren Nicholson and coach Chris Lucas. Lucas turned to his pine for some spark from Sarah Elsworthy as she delivered not only with a deuce from mid range but a couple of quality steals in a 3:20 burst. Seekamp was continuing to serve up the ball to her team-mates while Nadeen was continuing to bring the Payne with a long triple. The Lynx had the lead but this was erased like a school teacher clearing whiteboards in between lessons as Steph Talbot lit up the Lynx with an 8-0 run including back to back triples. Payne tripled again however and the Lynx only trailed by two at half-time, 41-39. The Lightning while dominating points from the paint with 20 so far had given up 9 points from turnovers to the Lynx with 6, something they would need to address at half-time.
The Lynx opened the third with a 9-0 run off the back of some uncharacteristic Seekamp turnovers and some bombs from deep by Payne and Marena Whittle. A Talbot huge block on Mansfield sparked a 12-0 run back the other way for Lightning through Talbot and a huge triple to veteran Natalie Hurst. Slowly but surely “Ms Double Double” import Bri Turner also was asserting herself all over the glass grabbing 12 rebounds in the quarter and some big blocks. Seekamp then dropped the buzzer beater two point left hand layup to square it all up at 57-57 a piece after three
Kicking off the fourth, Seekamp with a no looker found Talbot for her third triple of the match while Turner continued to turn the screws pushing it out to a five point margin before the Lynx hit back through their import Ariel Atkins who wanted to be part of this game (and my goodness did she come from under the sea to get the Lynx back into this one.) The WNBA Mystics star reeled off a step-back triple to close the margin then Mansfield followed by an in the block move by Williams gave the Lynx a three point lead with 2:50 to go. Seekamp knocked one down from the elbow before the moment of the match at 1:09 as Seekamp rolled her ankle badly stepping on the basketball boot of Maddie Allen as she collapsed in agony in not a good sign. Import Kathryn Westbeld’s drive and right handed finish proved pivotal before Atkins made a tough finish but Ms Double Double’s 24th board sealed a thriller for the Lightning over the Lynx, 75-74 but as we said before at what cost?
DO THE STATS LIE?
The Lightning gave up 14 turnovers in the game and conceded 18 points from these in the most telling statistic of the match, but on a positive Turner had 7 points and 14 rebounds in the second half in a highly influential stretch. The Lightning shot 33 percent from beyond the arc in the second half after shooting 27 percent in the first thanks mainly to Talbot.
The Lynx despite a lack of size won the rebounds 45-43 and got much production out of their bench with 15 points mainly from Williams and Whittle. The Lynx had five players in double figures with Atkins coming from the clouds with 11 of her points coming in the last 11:00 minutes of the game.
WHEN THE NEXT STRIKE COMES
The Lightning now have a huge game which while a dead rubber provides an opportunity to play finals hardened Canberra Capitals with the likelihood high with Opals duties around the corner next week (and even then a stretch) Nicole Seekamp not in action for that one. It’s the perfect opportunity for someone to stand up and take the responsibility of running the point for the team. Hurst will get the first crack but the door is also ajar for the rest of the Lightning bench to gain some significant minutes before they take on the Southside Flyers in their three game series in two weeks time.
ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 75 (SEEKAMP 17, TURNER 16, TALBOT 13, NICHOLSON 9) DEFEATED PERTH LYNX 74 (ATKINS, EBZERY 16, MANSFIELD 12, PAYNE, WHITTLE 11)
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 