Canberra's big finish too strong for Adelaide Lightning - Herald Sun

Laura Hodges was in top form for Adelaide Lightning in its loss to Canberra on Friday night. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

CANBERRA has saved its WNBL season and thrown Adelaide under the bus with a 23-16 last quarter for a 77-71 overnight win in Canberra.

Caps captain Jessica Bibby led with a game-high 24 points, including an 11-point final period that sezied control of the momentum.

Trailing 56-57, Canberra ran off 14 unanswered points, with guard Natalie Hurst also effective for 18 points.

Abby Bishop had a 15-point, 14-rebound double, Adelaide's game built on Laura Hodges' 20 points and six rebounds and Jess Foley's 14 and eight.

Canberra always looked threatening, Bibby following a three-point play through a foul on Nadeen Payne, with a three-point basket, sweeping Canberra from 43-44 to 49-45 in the third, a Hodges free throw adding to the Lightning's tally.

The foul was also Payne's third, seeing her join Azania Stewart on three apiece.

It effectively negated the third foul Bishop picked up for the Capitals inside the final minute of the first half which saw Adelaide with a spring in its step, the score deadlocked at 37-37.

A basket by Marino followed by a triple from the Lightning playmaker sent Adelaide back ahead before Stewart picked up her fourth foul with 2:24 left in the third.

Bishop sank both free throws and Alex Bunton bumped Canberra's edge to 53-50 before Amy Lewis swished a three-point basket.

But Adelaide slipped back to the earlier form of its 0-2 start with a turgid final quarter, hardly encouraging with Sydney on the schedule in Sydney today.

Canberra started strongly with Carly Wilson sticking a three and Bishop slotting two free throws for a 5-0 opening.

But Adelaide quickly rallied behind Hodges to snatch the lead by mid-quarter.

Smashed on the boards 50-18 by Adelaide a fortnight ago and 46-23 last week by Bendigo, the Caps started with "bigs" Carley Mijovic and Bunton alongside Bishop and it paid in the keyways.

Lightning had the better of the first half play but with Marino 1-of-7, Foley 1-of-9 and Payne 1-of-8 from the floor, a combined 3-of-24 in the first half - the rest of the team 9-of-16 - they were unable to take advantage.

CANBERRA CAPITALS 77 (Bibby 24, Hurst 18, Bishop 15) d ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 71 (Hodges 20, Foley 14, Lewis 10) in Canberra.

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