Above: Caitlin Ryan is shouldering most of the Dandenong Rangers’ offensive work this season. Ryan scored 15 points against the Adelaide Lightning on Friday night.By Glen Atwell
THE Dandenong Rangers’ winless start to the Women’s National Basketball League season continued on Friday night, the team losing 66-59 against the Adelaide Lightning.
A boisterous home crowd at Dandenong Basketball Stadium welcomed the home side for the first time this season and the Rangers were determined to turn the tide on a torrid start to the 2006-07 fixture.
After an energetic start Dandenong led 22-15 at quarter-time and seemed to be ‘on’ for the first time this season.
The Rangers’ offensive sets seemed organised and transitions from defence to offence were in sync.
But the Rangers could not maintain the frenetic first-quarter momentum.
The Lightning dictated play during the second term, and led by Erin Phillips and Kristen Rasmussen Adelaide gained the ascendancy and outscored the fumble-ridden Rangers 20-9.
In the second half, the story was much the same.
Dandenong never stopped trying but was simply out-gunned by the scoring power of the Lightning team.
At the other end of the court, the Rangers failed to sink the important field baskets.
Lightning forward Rasmussen was deadly from the field, netting eight of her 10 two-point attempts.
By three-quarter time Adelaide extended the lead to 14 points, and the Rangers needed a miracle.
Dandenong outscored the Lightning 16-9 in the final term to reduce the margin to seven points, but it should have been more.
Caitlin Ryan and Jenna O’Hea scored the bulk of Dandenong’s tally, collecting 15 and 26 points respectively.
Once again the Rangers struggled with their field efficiency, sinking only 32 per cent of their shots.
The field goal statistics would be causing the most headaches for coach Gary Fox.
In the first three games of the season, the Rangers have shot at 27 per cent, 27 per cent and 32 per cent from the field – far from match-winning figures.
But assistant coach Ed Dunstan said things were improving every week.
“At the start of the season there was some uncertainty as to how we would go,” he said.
“But the aim is still to start winning games and make the finals.”
Dunstan said with three players still to come back into the side, the Rangers were far from their best.
“Sam Richards, Kathleen McLeod and Shelley Hammonds are all waiting to return, so there is plenty of improvement to come,” he said.
Unfortunately the season doesn’t get any easier this weekend for the Rangers.
Dandenong’s next assignment is on the road against the Sydney Uni Flames on Friday night.
