Boomers outlast Lightning in WNBL

Melbourne have ensured Adelaide remain winless through three games of the WNBL season after outlasting the Lightning 85-81 in a tight contest in Parkville.

On the afternoon the Boomers unveiled their championship banner in front of a sold-out home crowd, the reigning title-holders were pushed to the final moments by a Lightning side backing up for their second game in two days.

The scores were tied at 68-68 with eight minutes left in the fourth term before Melbourne went on a 12-6 run to open a near insurmountable gap with 90 seconds remaining. 

Kristy Wallace (16 points) hit a three-pointer with the clock winding down and the Boomers held on to win by four points despite the visitors' valiant late surge. 

Wallace was one of four players to finish in double figures for the Boomers, with Tiffany Mitchell tallying 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Mia Murray adding 16 points, and Cayla George totting up 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to stuff the stat sheet.

All four made three-pointers as Melbourne hit 11 of their 17 attempts from beyond the arc.

"It was a pretty tough Sunday battle with the Lightning, so credit to them - they just came off a pretty big road trip to Townsville," Boomers captain George told the Nine Network.

"It was nice to get a win, we want to use this place as a fortress."

Steph Talbot (23 points) top-scored for Adelaide but the Lightning finished round two winless after also falling to Townsville on Friday.

In that game, Talbot and Lauren Mansfield poured in 18 points apiece but a 33 point, 10 rebound double-double from Tianna Hawkins kept the Fire undefeated in WNBL 23 with an 84-79 victory.

In round two's earlier games, Southside Flyers prevailed over Melbourne 67-57 at home behind Kayla Thornton's 15 point, 11 rebound double-double.

Southside had 11 steals and forced 20 turnovers, with Rebecca Cole notching 14 points and making two of her three attempts from behind the arc whilst picking the Boomers' pockets on four occasions. 

The Boomers won the rebound count comfortably but only had nine second-chance points as they split the round with one win and one loss.

In Bendigo, the Spirit maintained their undefeated start to the season with a 77-57 win over Sydney Flames.

A 20-point showing by Chloe Bibby, helped by 21 points from Amy Atwell, gave the Perth Lynx a 97-62 win over Canberra Capitals.