Feb. 17, 2013, 9:09 p.m.
IN FORM: Suzy Batkovic
NEWCASTLE Olympians Suzy Batkovic and Jenni Screen helped Adelaide Lightning warm up for the Women's National Basketball League finals with a 71-69 victory over defending champions Dandenong Rangers in a last-round thriller at Dandenong on Saturday night.
Batkovic scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with four seconds remaining, and pulled in 12 rebounds.
Screen had 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds as the Lightning notched up their seventh straight win.
Earlier, on Friday night, Adelaide had reached win No. 6 with a comfortable 88-73 victory over Bulleen at Bulleen.
Batkovic and Screen made solid contributions then too. Batkovic scored 22 points, with seven rebounds and four blocks, and Screen scored 12 (three assists and two rebounds).
The Lightning finished third with an 18-6 win-loss record, giving them home-court advantage for an elimination final against fourth-placed Townsville Fire (13-11) on Saturday.
Second-placed Dandenong (19-5) will play minor premiers Bendigo Spirit (21-3) in the major semi-final at Bendigo on Sunday.
Newcastle's Katie Ebzery (17 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals) played an integral role as Sydney Uni Flames (8-16) completed their campaign with a 76-60 victory over last-placed West Coast Waves (4-20) in Sydney on Saturday.
AAP reports: The teams to beat in the NBL are clear, but it remains to be seen who else will make the finals.
New Zealand Breakers (20-3) appear on track for title No. 3 after digging deep to down Wollongong 92-84 at home on Friday night.
Perth (17-5) beat Townsville 80-52 on Friday and Melbourne Tigers 83-79 yesterday.
But the race between the Tigers, Hawks and Kings for the last two spots remains wide open with five rounds left.
The Hawks (10-13) leapt into fourth by downing Townsville 86-62 at home yesterday.
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