R11: Pulse Vs Lightning

A promising final 1/4 comeback wasn’t enough to stop Lightning as they won 44-64.

With Funmi Fadoju unavailable for selection today, Jas Odeogberin got the start at GD in an otherwise familiar lineup. Lighting putting pressure on the Pulse team throughout the court and forcing uncharacteristic errors. With Pulse unable to get a strong start, Lightning capitalise and limit Pulse to only 6 goals, while landing 20 of their own.

Score 6-20

Q2

A few changes for Pulse to try and stem the flow with Rattu on at C, Honey moving to WA and Dekker to the bench. Pulse are able to put almost double the amount of goals on the board as the first half but Lightning still bringing the ball through court with ease. A much closer quarter but Lightning take it by 5.

Score 17-36

Q3

Pulse ring in the changes for Q3, Rothwell to GA, Dekker to C, Rattu to WD, Everitt to GD. Great defensive work from Keable, Rattur and Everitt sees them turning over ball and the attack beginning to reward those turnovers with goals. With 3 minutes left in the Q, Neil enters at GS. More strong defensive work from Everitt and Rattu to turn the ball and it’s rewarded with a goal. With one comes more and the Pulse attack start to play with a little more freedom towards the end of the Q. A much better quarter for Pulse as they keep the differential to 3.

Score 30-52

Q4

Alicia Scholes enters the court at WA, with Honey moving to the bench. Pulse defence working hard and force the 3 second call but Lightning are able to turn it back in their favour and score. Both defensive teams showing why they have the top 2 defensive records in the league but Lightning just making more use of their turnover ball.

Neil and Rothwell working well together in the circle in the start of this quarter. Odeogberin comes on at WD following a Warning to Rattu at WD.

Scholes shows amazing vision on her feeds and demonstrates exactly what the Pulse attack are made of. We take the final Quarter by 2 goals as we start to play the Pulse way.

Final score 44 – 64 as Pulse fall to their first home defeat of the season.

Sam Bird: “We know when Loughborough start well they blitz other teams and today we were not able to start well. We take positives from winning the 2nd half but we know we can play better than that. Loughborough showed they are a class side today but I’m proud of how we responded in the end.”

Starting 7
Liv
Sacha
Ash
Tayla
Zara
Jas
Lindsay

Gilbert PoM – Hannah Joseph
Pulse PoM – Lindsay Keable