Jackson red-hot again
January 31, 2003

Canberra Capitals 83 Adelaide Lightning 59
CANBERRA superstar Lauren Jackson gave a tantalising glimpse of what is to come in the WNBL final as the Capitals crushed Adelaide 83-59 at the AIS Arena tonight.

The Capitals wrapped up top spot on the ladder, and in the process left the Lightning in danger of missing out on the play-offs altogether.

Adelaide's equation is simple after Dandenong kept its season alive with victory against Bulleen, with a win against the AIS tomorrow night the only way for the Lightning to take the final play-offs spot.

Jackson was the clear difference between the two teams, playing one of her most dominant games of the season.

On the eve of the big games ahead, she sent a shudder through the other teams that have designs on winning this year's championship, finishing just one block off a superb triple-double.

Her final figures of 31 points, 17 rebounds and an incredible nine blocks hardly did her justice as she carried Canberra for large stretches, spectacularly during the third quarter.

After dominating the opening quarter to establish a 28-11 lead, the Capitals relaxed in the second, allowing the Lightning back within four points and eventually 46-40 at halftime.

Jackson took it upon herself in the third to put the gap back in the scoreline, scoring all but four of Canberra's 18 points as it led 64-51 with a quarter to play.

After holding the Lightning to just 11 points in the third, Canberra cranked its defence up another notch in the last.

With Jackson anchoring the middle it held Adelaide to just eight points in the fourth quarter, giving the Lightning just 19 second half points as its game disintegrated.

Canberra coach Tom Maher felt the Capitals received a timely lesson in the second quarter ahead of next weeks play off clash.

"We recognised that we can play to a high standard and we also recognised in the same game that we're an inch away from playing ordinary," Maher said.

"I was very disappointed in the second quarter, because we played unintelligently.

"It reminds us that as good as we are one moment, we're just a lack of focus and energy away from looking stupid."

Canberra also received a timely boost for its playing stocks, with guard Eleanor Sharp playing 15 minutes off the bench after ten weeks out with glandular fever, much to the delight of Maher.

Capitals' guard Kristen Veal will also take good form into next week after finishing with 12 points, eight assists and five steals, while Deanna Smith led the charge for Adelaide with 14.

CANBERRA CAPITALS 83 (L Jackson 31 L Baillie 14 K Veal 12 K Hannett 12) bt ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 59 (D Smith 14 M Bowley 11 R Sporn 10) at AIS Arena.

AAP