WNBL Round 6 wrap

The Adelaide Lightning have joined the Canberra Capitals on top of the defencejobs WNBL ladder after Canberra lost to the Sydney Uni Flames 84-67 on Friday and Adelaide posted back-to-back away wins over the Perth Lynx.

Sydney Uni responded to consecutive home losses with a determined 17-point win over a flustered Canberra outfit, minus an injured Jackie Stiles, at the Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatic Centre.

The Flames’ Eva Afeaki led all scorers with 20 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, one blocked shot and one steal and was well supported by the inspirational Nat Porter who played with a severely swollen jaw after having her wisdom teeth were removed just days earlier.

Canberra jumped to 9-2 lead, but Porter took the court and changed the direction of the game, netting nine of her 16 points in the first quarter. Alicia Poto was the player of the game, posting 13 points, six rebounds and five assists while shutting down Canberra dynamo Jessica Bibby and sending the Canberra offence into disarray.

Abby Bishop fought hard for the Caps to contribute 13 points and 11 rebounds.

In game one of the Adelaide / Perth double header, six Lightning players posted double figures in a solid 87-60 victory at Perry Lakes Stadium in Perth.

Sam Woosnam, Lauren King, Erin Phillips, Kristen Rasmussen, Tracey Gahan and Jess Foley combined to score 67 of Adelaide’s 80 points and 34 of 42 team rebounds.

Led by Rasmussen and King, the Lightning clawed back an early 6-point Perth lead to build a seven point cushion by the first break and went on to record a 27-point win, their fifth of the season.

For Perth, Carly Wilson led all scorers with 23 points and 5 rebounds while Melissa Marsh had 10 points and 4 rebounds and Crista Hays had 9 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bulleen Melbourne Boomers moved into the top four after a 95-87 win over the Townsville Fire at the Veneto Club on Saturday night.

Both sides had six players post double figures in the game but it was Townsville’s “leaky defence” that allowed the Boomers to record the highest score by any team this season.

The Fire could not contain Karen Ashby (18 points), Hollie Grima (17 points), Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (17 points), Sharin Milner (15 points), Desiree Glaubitz (15 points) and Deanne Butler (10 points).

The scoring six-some for Townsville were Renae Camino (16 points), Tania Heritage (16 points), Kelly Wilson (15 points), Rohanee Cox (11 points), Rachael Flanagan (11 points) and Jennifer Crouse (10 points).

The Dandenong Rangers remained in touch with the top four after registering a 70-67 come from behind victory against Townsville at Dandenong on Sunday.

Trailing by eight points after three quarters, the injury depleted Rangers outscored the Fire 25-14 in the final term, including a game winning Caitlin Ryan 3-point bomb with one second remaining.

The victory was marred by injuries to guard Jodie Datson (ankle) and world champion Opal Emily McInerny (hamstring). Aneka Kerr (ACL) was ruled out for the season earlier in the week.

Larissa Cavanagh was outstanding in leading all scorers with 20 points and five rebounds while last week’s Nivea Player of the Week Jenna O’Hea contributed 18 points and nine rebounds.

Rohanee Cox posted 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot to led Townsville while Tania Heritage scored 12 points and Rachael Flanagan 10 points.

In the final game of Round Six, the Adelaide Lightning defeated the Perth Lynx 79-62 at Tip Top Stadium in Geraldton to make it a weekend double.

Fighting for their second win of the season, the Lynx trailed the Lightning by one point at the half, but were outscored 40-24 in the second half.

Carly Wilson claimed Perth's game MVP honours, scoring 18 points with five rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocked shots while centre Crista Hays added 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Lightning were led by Erin Phillips, who registered her 1000th point for the Lightning with her first basket of the game, on her way to 20 points and nine rebounds. Lauren King chipped in with 13 points while Sam Woosnam and Jessica Foley both added 11 points each.

Round Six results and top scorers

Friday Night:

Sydney Uni 84 – Afeaki 20, Porter 16, Poto 13
Canberra 67 – Abrams 15, Bibby 15, Beatty 13

Adelaide 87 – Gahan 13, Phillips 12, Woosnam 11, King 11
Perth 60 – Wilson 23, Marsh 10, Hays 9

Saturday Night:

Bulleen 95 – Ashby 18, Grima 17, McMeeken-Ruscoe 17
Townsville 87 - Heritage 16, Camino 16, Wilson 15

Adelaide 79 – Gahan 13, Phillips 12, Woosnam 11, King 11
Perth 62 – Wilson 18, Hays 10, Finnigan 9

Sunday Afternoon:

Dandenong 70 – Cavanagh 20, O’Hea 18, Ryan 13, Downie 13
Townsville 67 – Cox 19, Heritage 12, Flanagan 10