ADELAIDE Lightning’s greatest challenge was exposed in its home opener at Adelaide Arena in a 10-point loss to reigning champion Townsville Fire last night, how to win when lacking height.

Lightning was well in the contest until halfway through the final quarter before going down 75-65.

The home side had done a great job limiting the impact of Fire superstar centre Suzy Batkovic and rising star forward Darcee Garbin, but when the game was in the balance those two players were the ones who gathered easy rebounds and found shots from close range.

But what ultimately cost Adelaide in the end was their own; missing simple lay-ups and open shots early on and it came back to bite them.

“Unfortunately we didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, especially early,” Lightning coach Chris Lucas said.

“So we had no confidence within the group.

“We had four players with a very low clip and at this level you just can’t have that.

“We missed foul shots when we shouldn’t have, were outrebounded and shot the ball poorly.

“This group is a good shooting team.

“The frustrating part is defensively we had done enough to win the game even though we didn’t play great.

“We had open looks - if we make more of those we win the game.

“When we played well in patches we had good open shots and you have to be able to make those shots.

“Unfortunately today we didn’t.”

Adelaide defended well, moved the ball quickly and gradually worked itself into the match after shaky start.

There were times when nothing was dropping in the first quarter, only Colleen Planeta could buy a basket. She had 10 points out of the team’s first 12.

But the Lightning as a team could not have been more wasteful.

The field goal percentage sat at a horror 14 to Townsville’s 47.

US import Nia Coffey, who was so impressive on debut in the team’s opening round win against the Lynx in Perth, began pulling down rebounds.

Nicole Seekamp fired in three-pointers with the shot clock running down and with a minute to go in the first half scores were tied.

Garbin had a game-high 20 points, while Batkovic added 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Seekamp led Adelaide with 17 points, while Planeta and Lauren Nicholson had 14 points. Lightning now head to Canberra to play the Capitals tomorrow.