The Bourne Ultimatum - Only a month into her WNBL career Issie Bourne has shown with her work on star of the league Kelsey Griffin against the Spirit she can in time contain the league's best - Photo Credit to Snap Shot Photography
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4-Minute Read
WNBL ROUND 6
Adelaide Lightning vs Sydney Flames
When: 6:30pm (ACDT), Wednesday 6 December
Where: Adelaide 36ers Arena – The Lighthouse
Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, ESPN
STRIKE BACK IN HISTORY
Call for Bourne
Listen to our call as we saw it of Issie Bourne’s standout career high first half on a month into her WNBL career…
Key Matchups
Jocelyn Willoughby vs Lauren Nicholson
Another huge game for the New York Liberty guard considering it’s her former side. Willoughby has shown strong signs of breaking out for multiple games in a row and tonight would be another good night to see off her former Flames.
Seems the change back home has been as good as a holiday for Nicholson as returning to her roots in NSW. Averaging 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and assists with 2.4 – Nicholson has been unleashed offensively by Guy Molloy clocking her first 20 plus point game since 22 points on the 7th of January against the Caps. She knows the rings at Adelaide Arena well and is always a danger.
Issie Bourne vs Cayla George
As we heard above it was a breakout game for the 22-year old on Saturday night against the Spirit which not only showed up in numbers but her play as well. 17 points, four rebounds and two blocks don’t tell the full story of how much Bourne was impacting. Not only was she guarding Kelsey Griffin who she kept scoreless for at least a half but she got herself inside the paint and made herself a presence balancing her pick and pop three point opportunities. She’s rising and another test looms in WNBA championship player Cayla George.
Make no mistake she’s an ace in more ways than one. The player that troubles the Lightning the most with her ability to set some tough pick and roll action as she has the ability to create scoring from any where with her iconic release. Although since her starting five position in the Las Vegas Aces final all those months ago – George has been humming along without ripping right through. Her highest numbers this season came in her last game against the Spirit with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Lightning need to be on the lookout in this one.
Brianna Turner vs Didi Richards
The numbers showed a different look for Turner on Saturday night and it came once again from actions involving the pick and roll with Mansfield. Turner took double figure attempts from the field – nearly twice as many as her season average. Getting that average up to double figures is the key to lifting the Lightning up into that top four and finding that consistent scorer.
Richards is starting to show she’s a smart pick in this year’s WNBL. The Baylor Bears college graduate on the Liberty’s list already has two double doubles this season with a season high 18 points and 12 rebounds showing her ability to fit right into the league. Watch with great interest how she goes about her work tonight.
QUESTIONS TO STRIKE ON
Where are the Lightning really at about quarter into the season?
The Lightning have progressed ahead of where they were end of last year no doubt and have been incredibly unlucky once again in a couple of games this season. As Nat Hurst said they can compete with anyone – they just need to play four quarters. With a December run of the Flames and Lynx at home, then the Spirit and Boomers in a Victorian double header away followed by Capitals away then home to play the Flyers – we are going to find out plenty about the consistency and up side of this squad Hurst has assembled.
Is the Flames list as stacked as it looks?
Guy Molloy’s roster looks stacked on paper but so far only has two wins to show for their work. Led by Opals Tess Madgen, George and Nicholson, much improved Kiera Rowe, Lara McSpadden, Vanessa Panousis and Emma Clarke and two imports Richards and underrated Paige Bradley – The squad runs deep however the scary thing is there is still more to go. Shaneice Swain won’t be back for a while yet by looks and Isla Juffermans and Ahlise Hurst are on the improve in their minutes. It’s bringing it all together that Molloy is still working on behind the scenes clearly in his “secret season”.
So who wins?
Lightning have been desperately unlucky but on paper this one looks like a Flames win who need to get their W column ticking over – it’ll depend which set of the B’s in Bourne, Borlase, Brazel and Bri turn up…
COD Prediction: Flames by 7 points
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CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 