Kelsey Browne looks for a teammate.
THE Lightning crashed to earth with a giant thud with GWS claiming a heart-stopping 55-54 win over the Sunshine Coast at USC Stadium.
In the clash between the last two undefeated sides left in Suncorp Super Netball, the Giants claimed their fourth win from four games after finishing over the top of the home side.
The Lightning led by as many as six goals in the first term but the Giants seized control in the third quarter and withstood a late Sunshine Coast surge
The Sunshine Coast retook the lead with two minutes left but the Giants scored three of the last four goals to inflict the Lightning’s first-ever loss.
Caitlin Bassett wins possession.Source:Getty Images
Susan Pettitt was the leading goalscorer for the Giants with 23 while Caitlin Bassett hit 45 goals from 47 attempts for the Lightning.
GWS turned a four-goal halftime deficit into a one-goal advantage at three-quarter time as the Lighting lost their way forcing coach Noeline Taurua to make a number of changes to stop the rot.
And it almost worked to perfection.
The Sunshine Coast had the luxury of injecting two internationals into their side after Laura Langman (foot) and Stephanie Wood (knee) returned from injury to give the Lightning five Test players on their starting side.
It was Wood’s first appearance for the Lightning and her combination with Bassett hummed.
Still working her way back to full match fitness after an extended period on the sidelines, Wood was replaced at halftime by Cara Koenen and the Lightning lost its flow as GWS drew level then kicked away.
The Lightning led 29-25 at halftime after a ferocious first two quarters.
Playing with a fluency and confidence, the Sunshine raced to an early six-goal buffer in the first quarter that forced the Giants to take an early timeout in an attempt to halt the irresistible momentum of the home side.
The first quarter had a finals-like intensity befitting a clash between the two teams at the top of the table as the Lightning led 17-13 but the second term was a far more error-riddled affair underlining that both sides are still learning how to play with each other.
GWS closed to within a solitary goal of the Sunshine Coast during the second quarter when they upped their defensive pressure but the Lightning responded late to maintain their four-goal advantage at the main break.
Originally published as Giants engineer Lightning crash
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