Basketball On The Internet.

"LIGHTNING beat the odds" is a story title which could have been used 100 times during the WNBL club's storied 25-year history, but it was just as applicable again last night in a gritty 86-80 road win at Dandenong.

Adelaide playmaker Aimie Clydesdale was knocked unconscious by a Rachel Jarry block - naturally it was deemed to be Clydesdale's charge foul - but Lightning held on for one of their defining wins of the 2018-19 season and a 2-1 wrap of their season-series with the Rangers.

While columnists and sports stars in SA were busy rallying fans to attend tomorrow's match against Canberra, the Lightning were counting the cost of the tough road win.

"Aimie wasn't very good," Lightning coach Chris Lucas admitted, his team with additional matches this week against Sydney on Wednesday and Townsville on Friday, both on the road.

"But I couldn't be prouder of the way the girls played. It was a very good game of basketball."

Imports Nia Coffey with 18 points and Kayla Alexander with a 12-point, 11-rebound double, led Lightning's attack, Clydesdale (below) controlling the tempo and enjoying her best game of the season with 13 points.

Missing star import swingman Betnijah Laney, Dandenong was fired up by Carley Mijovic in her best game of the season.

Mijovic had 21 of her 26 points in the first half, Adelaide ahead 55-54 in what was evolving into one of the matches of a high-quality season.

Stephanie Blicavs' unexpected return against her former club also revved her Adelaide teammates but they will need all that and more tomorrow against the Capitals.

In the light of recent controversies over the team's future, a big crowd has been rallied over the past week.

Of course that won't mean any extra dollars, because entry is free, the club too cheap to employ doorkeepers. And that should tell you as much as you need to know about Lightning's current "plight".

MAC ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 86 (Coffey 18, Planeta, Clydesdale 13, Alexander 12; Alexander 11 rebs; Seekamp 6 assts) d JAYCO DANDENONG RANGERS 80 (Mijovic 26, Cole 21, Pedersen 12; Mijovic 9 rebs; Todhunter 5 assts) at The Ranger Station, Dandenong Stadium.