The Adelaide Lightning fought hard but lost their Round 2 clash with the Geelong Venom 110-76.
Adelaide shot out of the gates during Saturday’s Indigenous Round fixture at the Geelong Arena, scoring points on their first four times down the court, to lead 8-5.
That lead grew to 13-8, behind five points and two assists from Australian Opal, Steph Talbot.
Strong defensive energy off the bench by Ella Tofaeono, combined with triples by Taylah Brazel and Dallas Loughridge, made it 22-13 to the Lightning.
A late Serena Sundell three-pointer ensured the visitors held a nine-point (25-16) advantage at the first change.
The hosts scored the first five points of the term before another triple by Talbot settled proceedings for the Lightning.
Another shot from downtown by Loughridge quickly followed, and Adelaide’s lead had ballooned to double digits.
Point guard Loughridge, who represented Australia at the 2021 under 19s World Cup, continued to shine in the first half, converting a driving and one to make it 36-23.
But six quick points from Jazmin Shelley, followed by a two-pointer jumper by Elissa Brett, and the hosts had closed the margin to seven, with 4.45 to play in the half.
That momentum quickly turned into a 13-0 run for Geelong, capped by a three-pointer from Mackenzie Holmes to tie it up at 36-all.
Adelaide’s scoring drought ended when Tofaeono converted from close range.
That did little to stop the hosts’ scoring, with efforts from Gemma Potter, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, Brett and Holmes making it 45-38.
A late deep three-pointer by Clinch Hoycard capped an amazing 25-2 run for the hosts, who led Adelaide 48-38 at the main break.
Three straight triples by Shelley saw Adelaide fall behind by 15 early in the third, despite crafty scores by Sania Feagin, Loughridge and Talbot.
The three-point onslaught continued when Clinch Hoycard hit one from the right wing, forcing Kerryn Mitchell to call a timeout.
Scores from Loughridge, Sundell and Jasmin Fejo kept Adelaide within striking distance midway through the third.
By the end of the period, the hosts had hit six triples for the term, seeing their advantage grow to 20 at the final change.
A 9-2 run to open the quarter did not help Adelaide’s chances of a comeback, as Geelong pushed ahead.
An incredible triple to beat the shot clock buzzer by Potter was cancelled out by two shots from beyond the three-point arc by Brazel, who never stopped trying for the visitors.
Likewise was Talbot and Feagin, who kept the scoreboard ticking over, but the issue continued to be on the defensive end for Adelaide, as Geelong scored at will.
The Venom ended the game by scoring 12 of the final 16, to run out winners by 34 points.
In the loss, Loughridge top-scored for the Lightning with 18 points, to go with four assists and one rebound.
Others to score in double figures were Talbot (16 points, six dimes, five boards and three steals) and Sundell (10 points, three rebounds and three assists).
Next up for Adelaide is a Round 3 home fixture against the UC Capitals on Saturday, November 1, from 2.30pm ACDT.
Tickets to the SA State Basketball Centre match are still available here.
