ADELAIDE Lightning produced the upset of the round and arguably the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season on Saturday, toppling the Townsville Fire by 15 points on the road.

The Fire have been the best side in the competition throughout 2023/24 fixture, and look a strong chance of making it consecutive titles in the coming months.

In Round 12, they faced off against the eighth-placed Lightning, who have not been able to string together a meaningful winning streak over the first 11 weeks of action.

Townsville was by far the favoured side in the matchup on paper, but was stunned when Adelaide delivered its best performance of the season.

While the Fire got the jump in the first term as expected, the Lightning rallied after quarter time and ended up showing just how exciting their young roster could be in the future.

Townsville Fire (75) def. by Adelaide Lightning (90)

The game looked as if it would pan out as predicted in the opening 10 minutes, with the Fire getting on top early in the match. The reigning champions went on a 6-0 run to start the game, and immediately showed their class in what was another strong start from the title favourites. The margin ballooned out to double-digits, and with the Lightning trailing by nine points at the first change, it looked as if the match would get away from the visitors.

Townsville guard Jessica McDowell-White drained a three-pointer to put the Fire 12 points up and in a comfortable position. It was a commanding lead from the hosts, before Isobel Borlase and Isabelle Bourne went on a serious run to drag their side back into the contest.

The pair scored 10 consecutive points for the Lightning to bring Adelaide within three points on the eve of half time. Joceyln Willoughby added some handy baskets of her own, helping the Lightning remarkably lead by three points at the main break.

Willoughby, Bourne and Borlase continued their good work after half-time, helping extend Adelaide’s lead out to over 10 points in no time at all. In the third quarter, the Fire were held to just 12 points, after the Lightning went on a match-defining run to lead by 11 at the final change.

Remarkably, Adelaide never allowed the Fire to get closer than nine points in the last term, consistently having an answer for every challenge Townsville made. The game ended as a 90-75 win for the Lightning, in what was the upset of the season.

Bourne was the star of the show for the Lightning in the win, posting 24 points on 10/18 shooting from the field and 4/9 from behind the arc. Lauren Mansfield lit up in the second half and finished with 20 points of her own, while Willoughby and Borlase combined for 31 points and had some seriously important moments.