Geelong Venom became the first side to reach triple-digits this WNBL season, with Jazmin Shelley and Mackenzie Holmes producing clinical performances in a 110-76 win over Adelaide Lightning.
The WNBA draftees stepped up in the second quarter to help the home side recover from a 13-point deficit at Geelong Arena on Saturday, securing the Venom’s first win of the season.
Holmes was instrumental, registering 33 points and six rebounds, while Shelley recorded 25 points and five assists.
Victory came despite the Venom missing their WNBA import Alissa Pili, out for at least five weeks with an ankle injury.
“I make sure that players feel they can play a number of roles, and we asked (Alex) Sharp to play the four spot (today). We’ve got a little bit of flexibility there,” Geelong coach Chris Lucas said.
“I’m just pleased for the girls, and we’re getting better. We can tidy up a few execution things defensively and offensively.
“We were just undisciplined (at the start), and then we went on about a 20-point run. We got lucky on a few late shots.”
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard produced the moment of the match when she scored a triple from well outside the semi-circle as Geelong’s shot clock ran out.
The Lightning will return home still winless for the season, although Steph Talbot (16 points, three steals) and young-gun Dallas Loughridge (18 points, four assists) were busy.
Adelaide coach Kerryn Mitchell said the side needed other players to step up when Talbot goes to the bench, after Geelong capitalised when she was rested in the second quarter.
“We weren’t terrible tonight. It’s pretty hard to beat a team that shoots at 65 per cent from three,” Mitchell said.
“We got stagnant on offence, and we weren’t getting stops on defence, which meant we couldn’t run as much.”
Both teams started the game sinking bucket after bucket before Talbot stepped in to orchestrate points and give the Lightning a nine-point lead at quarter-time.
Loughridge helped the visitors open up a 13-point buffer in the second quarter, before Shelley and Holmes stepped up and enabled the home side to finish the half with a 48-38 lead.
Shelley sank three consecutive triples to start the third quarter, extending the Venom’s buffer to 20 points.
The Lightning were unable to find any rhythm in the final quarter, turning the ball over as Geelong comfortably broke through the century barrier.
