Flames light up Lightning in 24-point romp

• Australian Opal Cayla George has 13-13 double-double for the Flames
• Sydney moves to 6-9 and into fourth on WNBL Ladder
• Adelaide continue to struggle, drop to 5-11

Sydney Flames torched the Adelaide Lightning 84-60 (Game Centre) on Sunday, January 19, 2025 in a matinee WNBL Round 12 clash at Qudos Bank Arena in front of 4,205 fans.

The Flames' scorching performance was fuelled by a balanced attack and stifling defence that left the Lightning struggling to find their rhythm throughout.

From the opening tip, Sydney seized control and never relinquished it. The Flames raced out to an early double-digit lead behind the sharpshooting of Shaneice Swain. Adelaide attempted to counter with their inside presence, but struggled.

As the game progressed, the Flames continued to build their advantage through a combination of efficient offence and smothering defence.

Cayla George dominated the glass, pulling down 13 rebounds to go along with her 13 points.

The Lightning showed brief signs of life in the third quarter, stringing together a run to cut the deficit to single digits.

However, Sydney quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback.

The numbers tell the story of Sydney's comprehensive victory. The Flames shot 39.4% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range, compared to Adelaide's 34.8% and 22.2%. Sydney also dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 52 boards to Adelaide's 40.

Shaneice Swain led all scorers with 23 points, including a scorching 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Yemiyah Morris was a force in the paint, notching a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Her interior presence was crucial in limiting Adelaide's second-chance opportunities and igniting Sydney's transition game.

For Adelaide, Brianna Turner and Steph Talbot each contributed 14 points in a losing effort. However, the Lightning's offence never found its groove, with key players like Isobel Borlase and Japreece Dean struggling to make an impact.