Gallant Future Flames lose to Lightning at HoopsFest

A gallant Harvey Norman Future Flames went down in their second HoopsFest clash on Friday night to the Adelaide Lightning 102-76 at the Bendat Basketball Centre.
Match summary
Piper Anderson kept her hot shooting going from the previous night, hitting her first jumper to open the Flames’ scoring. Adelaide responded in a big way though, going in an 11-0 run. Free-throws by Caitlyn Martin and a triple by Carla Pitman put an end to that. Despite strong play by Maddie Dalmeida, the speed on offence by the Lightning saw them stretch their lead to 25-8 with 2.56 to play in the first. A late flurry by the Flames, sparked by Anderson, Sari Mowbray and Lily Austin, closed it to 30-16 at the first change.
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Sydney scored seven of the first 11 points in the second, through Carla Pitman and Peggy Schell, before an Asha Phillips score made it a single-digit game. But Adelaide responded through numerous outside jump shots and offensive rebounds, as the Flames’ deficit blew out to 16. A late free-throw by Emily Garland made it 56-41 to Adelaide at the main change.
PUSHIN’ THRU 💨
Watch the rest of our HoopsFest clash with Adelaide now live via the @WNBL app. #FlameOn pic.twitter.com/fNkpbhuJ4G
— Sydney Flames (@TheSydneyFlames) September 20, 2024
A perfectly run play saw Caitlyn Martin find Ella Leasuasu with a dime to opening proceedings in the third. That play continued to pay dividends for Renae Garlepp’s side early in the term before Pitman banked in a triple to make it 64-50. Pitman’s aggression on the ring kept the Flames’ scoring ticking over. Despite a late score by Maddie Dalmeida, turnovers hurt the Flames as Adelaide ended the period on a 12-4 run, to go into the last break up 78-57.
A pair of Pitman shots from the charity stripe ended a 7-0 run by Adelaide to open the quarter. Further scores by Pitman and Phillips ensured Sydney remained within striking distance, as did back-to-back triples by Austin. The latter then provided a highlight behind-the-back pass to Mowbray. In the end, the Lightning chalked up a 26-point win.
Where the match was decided
The HoopsFest game was won by Adelaide thanks to statistical victories in field goal percentage (53-45), rebounds (46-26), steals (11-8), points in the paint (54-32), second-0chance points (15-3), points off turnovers (22-15) and fast-break points (30-9).
Key moment
Another slow start once again hurt the Flames, forcing them to play catch-up for most of the HoopsFest encounter.
They asked for a cook, WE GAVE ‘EM A CHEF 🔥#FlameOn pic.twitter.com/FG554UaYNu
— Sydney Flames (@TheSydneyFlames) September 20, 2024
Players of the game
Pitman was the standout for the Future Flames, recording 25 points, to go with eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block.
Other standouts were Anderson (12 points), Austin (eight) and Mowbray (eight).
What’s next
The Flames will now return home to Sydney to begin their official pre-season training for the WNBL25 campaign – ahead of their opener against Canberra on Sunday, November 3.
This fixture, part of the Hoops Capital club’s first double-header of 2024-25 alongside the Kings’ match with Tasmania, tips off at 1.45pm AEDT at Qudos Bank Arena – with tickets still available here.