The Adelaide Link Lightning struck in Whyalla with a hard-fought nine point victory over the Dandenong Rangers in their WNBL game at Jubilee Basketball Stadium on Friday night.

The team was led by centre Cayla Francis, who finished with a game high of 26 points.

She was awesome at both ends of the court, as the Lightning were surprised by a determined Rangers, who jumped the shell shocked Lightning early and nearly caused a major upset.

The starting line ups for both sides were Francis, Rebecca Duke, Mia Newley, former local girl Angela Marino and Samantha Woosnam, while for the Rangers, Caitlin Ryan, Stephanie Cumming, former Lightning player Jess Mahoney, Megan Moody and Faith Probst took to the boards.

The game started at a frenetic pace, with the Rangers getting on the score sheet first.

Some brilliant long range, three point shooting from the Rangers was stunning the Lightning, with the Rangers going into the first break with a handy five point lead, the scores being 22 to 17.

The Rangers continued its brilliant long range shooting, rarely missing, while Lightning was having trouble finding the basket and suddenly, the Rangers were out to an 11-point lead.

However, as all good teams do, they did not give in and fought their way back into the game with some gritty, determined basketball, reducing the deficit to only two points at the long break, the scores being 32 to 30.

In the third quarter, the Lightning slowly worked themselves back into the game, as their shooting percentage got better.

Every time they looked like breaking away, the Rangers would answer with a three pointer, keeping themselves in the game.

The Rangers held the lead by the barest of margins, one point, with the scores being 53 to 52 and what a great last quarter we were in for.

It was basket for basket early in the quarter, with the scores level with 6.30 left to play.

Francis started to control the play at both ends of the court and with 1.40 left on the clock, Lightning found themselves six points ahead.