Spirit’s just too good for Adelaide
REIGNING WNBL champion Bendigo proved again it needs just one quarter to beat Adelaide, taking out the Lightning 78- 65 at Bendigo Stadium on Saturday.
The Spirit completed a 3-0 sweep of the Lightning with a withering 24-4 third period that reduced Adelaide’s hard-fought 44-41 interval lead to dust.
When it beat Lightning last week, Spirit’s opening 26-13 period did the trick and when they previously met in Bendigo, it was a 17-4 final period that sealed it.
On Saturday, Kristi Harrower had her way with a succession of Adelaide defenders — from Jenni Screen to Amy Lewis — finishing with 24 points at 56 per cent, including 3-of-4 threes and a game- high seven assists.
Laura Hodges’ 10-point second quarter helped push Adelaide ahead after a 17-17 first quarter.
But after Azania Stewart opened the third-quarter scoring, Bendigo peeled off nine straight points.
Screen hit a shot, then Bendigo reeled off a further 15 unanswered points, capitalising on a 36- 27 boards dominance and 23 Lightning turnovers.
In other matches, Sydney Uni Flames were too good for Canberra Capitals 81-68, Dandenong Rangers defeated Melbourne Boomers 72-57 and Townsville Fire shot down the West Coast Waves 95-67.