By Hayley Wildes
The Dandenong Rangers have slumped to their fourth consecutive loss, this time falling to the Adelaide Lightning on the road on Saturday night.
After starting the season with two promising wins, the Rangers have been unable to find their offensive rhythm since and now sit at 2-4 on the season.
Despite the best efforts of star guard Bec Cole, the Rangers were never in the contest against the Lightning.
Adelaide’s Lauren Nicholson caught fire in the opening quarter, draining four triples from four attempts and her team skipped away to a 27-16 lead at the first break.
Cole scored 10 of Dandenong’s 16 first-quarter points and was the only Ranger able to make inroads into the Lightning’s defence.
Cole and Betnijah Laney kept the scoreboard ticking over opening stages of the second quarter, but Adelaide had all the answers.
When Nicole Seekamp hit a triple with just over three minutes remaining in the half, the Lightning had their biggest lead of the night, 48-29.
The Rangers headed into half time with a 19-point deficit, 56-37.
Dandenong’s defence lifted after half time and they were able to get some stops on the defensive end, but this mattered little as their offence continued to struggle. Despite holding Adelaide to 19 points for the quarter, Dandenong managed just 16 of their own to see them trail by 22 points, 75-53, with a quarter to play.
With the game all but over, Adelaide continued to control the game and cruised to a massive win, 99-74.
Cole (27 points and 3 assists) was the only constant for the Rangers on offence as she continued her strong form, while Laney (9 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists) was also impressive on both ends of the court.
Adelaide’s depth was too much for Dandenong as six players scored in double figures. Nia Coffey (21 points and 7 rebounds), Lauren Nicholson (20 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds) and Nicole Seekamp (17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists) were in devastating form for the Lightning.
Dandenong has a big weekend ahead – one that could make or break their season. Two road games; a Friday night battle with Bendigo and a match-up against Canberra on Sunday.
Two wins and Dandenong will be right back in the mix for finals, but if they drop both, finals will be an absolute long shot.
