Lightning fast- Sam Woosnam looks for a way around West Coast’s Rohanee Cox in the Rangers 19-point victory. 75719 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Jarrod Potter
DANDENONG is playing to keep their finals hopes alive this week when they face the top-placed Adelaide Lightning at home.
Lightning’s centre Suzy Batkovic is in league MVP form, leading the WNBL for points scored (25.3ppg), rebounds (10.7), steals (2.7) and fourth overall for two-point percentage (53.4). Along with Batkovic is former Ranger Abby Bishop (16.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game) and shooter Angela Marino (12.5 points per game).
The Rangers have played 17 matches and sit in seventh with a 52.95 winning percentage and will likely have to win every match for the rest of the season to scrape into the final five.
They managed to stay in contention with a 1-1 weekend, losing to Bendigo 84-77 and beating the West Coast Waves 75-56.
On Friday night, the Rangers were unable to overcome the lethal combination of Deanna Smith (30 points) and Gabrielle Richards (11 points and 11 rebounds). Kathleen Macleod top scored for the Rangers with 18 points. Alison Downie was impressive with 12 points and nine rebounds (five offensive).
Sunday afternoon fared better for the Rangers, putting away the Waves convincingly by 19 points. With reduced minutes for all players, Macleod and Stephanie Cumming were equal top scorers with 16 points each.