After losing their opening three matches of the season, the defending champions now have back-to-back wins.
It was also a double celebration, as experienced goalkeeper Geva Mentor claimed Nissan MVP honours on the same day that she played her 150th national league netball match.
Lightning didn’t have it all their own way though, with the winless Thunderbirds arguably displaying their best performance on the court for the season to date.
It was the Lightning frontcourt that got the job done, with Steph Wood providing 24 assists and shooting 17/20 next to Caitlin Bassett who shot 43/47, at a clip of 91 per cent.
The visitors frustrated Lightning with their intensity and looked poised to take their first bonus point of the season in the first, second and third quarters – only to be overrun late in the terms.
Kate Shimmin was enormous in defence, Chelsea Pitman was reeling off assists at will and young South Australian talent Charlee Hodges – elevated to the Thunderbirds roster as an injury replacement for Sasha Glasgow in the opening rounds – had 11 goals at 92 per cent at the halftime break.
Lightning were leading 29-26, but they were being pushed by the bottom-placed team who have been soundly beaten in almost every match so far this season.
Change was needed, so the home-team made the big call to bench defender Laura Scherian in the second quarter to bring on Jacqueline Russell.
Adelaide suffered a cruel blow in the third quarter, with Hodges forced from the court after collecting a stray shoulder to her face, which left her groggy and dazed.
The Thunderbirds stayed right on the tail of the Lightning team, but again late goals for the home side denied them a bonus point with the Sunshine Coast outfit leading 45-39 heading into the final term.
Lightning were able to go on to complete the job, but the win was soured by an ankle injury to Madeline McAuliffe late in the match.
Both sides wore black armbands to honour the life of Sunshine Coast Lightning coach Noeline Taurua’s father Kingi, who lost his battle against cancer during the week.
Q1: Lightning 13 v Thunderbirds 11
Q2: Lightning 16 v Thunderbirds 15
Q3: Lightning 16 v Thunderbirds 13
Q4: Lightning 15 v Thunderbirds 12
Suncorp Super Netball premiership points
Lightning 8
Thunderbirds 0
Lightning shooting statistics
Caitlin Bassett 43/47
Steph Wood 17/20
Thunderbirds shooting statistics
Shimona Nelson 30/34
Charlee Hodges 12/14
Abigail Latu-Meafou 9/12
Lightning starting seven
GS: Caitlin Bassett, GA: Steph Wood, WA: Kelsey Browne, C: Laura Scherian, WD: Madeline McAuliffe, GD: Karla Pretorius, GK: Geva Mentor
Thunderbirds starting seven
GS: Shimona Nelson, GA: Charlee Hodges, WA: Chelsea Pitman, C: Kaitlyn Bryce, WD: Fiona Fowler, GD: Leana de Bruin, GK: Kate Shimmin
Nissan MVP: Geva Mentor
