Dallas Loughridge lights up Sydney in 2nd half

• Loughridge and Feagin combine for 46 points in Adelaide road win
• Lightning flip game with explosive second quarter after slow start
• Feagin delivers dominant two-way double-double performance

Dallas Loughridge and Sania Feagin set the tone from the outset, combining for 46 points as Adelaide Lightning overpowered the Sydney Flames to claim a commanding 19-point road win , 94-75 at Quay Centre in Sydney on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Loughridge, who scored 18 points in the second half, was relentless across all four quarters, finishing with 23 points, 4 assists, 7 free throws made, and a team-high 8 fouls drawn, consistently punishing Sydney’s defence off the dribble. Feagin was equally dominant, delivering a powerful two-way performance with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 30 efficiency, controlling the paint and stretching the floor with three triples.

Lightning head coach Aja Parham-Ammar has upped the tempo after taking over from Kerryn Mitchell.

After Sydney jumped out to a 20–13 first-quarter lead, Adelaide seized control behind their co-captains, erupting for a 30–16 second quarter to turn the game. From there, the Lightning never looked back, winning the third quarter 27–17 and maintaining scoreboard pressure through the final term.

Adelaide finished the game shooting 61.5% on two-point attempts and 86.4% from the free-throw line, while also winning the rebounding battle 40–37 and recording 25 assists. The Lightning led for 26 minutes and stretched the margin to a game-high 20 points.

Sydney was led by Lauren Nicholson with 23 points, while Shaneice Swain added 14 points off the bench, but the Flames struggled to contain Adelaide’s physicality and ball movement, committing 18 turnovers as the visitors pulled away.

It was a complete, statement performance from Adelaide, driven by the authority and efficiency of Loughridge and Feagin from the opening tip.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide Lightning 94 def. Sydney Flames 75
• When: Sunday, 14th December 2025
• Where: Quaycentre
• Attendance: 2,245
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Dallas Loughridge (Adelaide Lightning) starred with 23 points, three rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 34 minutes.
• Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames) scored 23 points, and had four assists and one steal in 38 minutes.

What Happened

Sydney established early control with a stellar first quarter performance, racing to a 20-13 lead behind efficient shooting and aggressive offense. The Flames dominated the opening period, building their biggest lead of 11 points and controlling tempo for over seven minutes. However, Adelaide's response in the second quarter proved devastating, as they outscored Sydney 30-16 to take a commanding 43-36 halftime advantage.

The Lightning's second-quarter explosion was sparked by outstanding offensive efficiency and defensive intensity. Adelaide shot an exceptional 61.54% from the field compared to Sydney's lacklustre 44.19%, with the Lightning's superior ball movement generating 25 assists to the Flames' 18. Steph Talbot's all-around brilliance shone through with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while her defensive ability helped limit Sydney's scoring opportunities.

Dallas Loughridge anchored Adelaide's offensive surge with masterful post play and mid-range shooting, going 7-from-11 from two-point range. Her efficient 63.64% shooting from inside the arc, combined with clutch free-throw shooting at 85.71%, proved instrumental in the Lightning's dominant performance. Sania Feagin complemented Loughridge perfectly, recording a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds while shooting an outstanding 50% from beyond the arc.

Adelaide's superior shooting was the decisive factor throughout the contest. The Lightning's exceptional 61.54% field goal percentage completely overwhelmed Sydney's defensive schemes, while their 36% three-point shooting provided crucial spacing. Adelaide dominated the paint with 44 points compared to Sydney's 34, utilising their size advantage effectively. The Lightning also excelled from the charity stripe, converting 86.36% of their free-throw attempts compared to the Flames' 83.33%.

Adelaide's defensive intensity forced Sydney into uncomfortable shots, particularly from downtown where the Flames managed just 30% from three-point range. The Lightning's ability to control the boards with 40 rebounds to Sydney's 37 provided additional possessions and limited second-chance opportunities for their opponents. Adelaide's balanced scoring attack, with four players reaching double digits, demonstrated their depth and tactical flexibility under pressure.

Game Flow Indicators

• Time in lead: Adelaide 26:00 │ Sydney 12:20
• Lead changes: 8
• Biggest lead: Adelaide by 20
• Largest scoring run: Adelaide 10