Lightning strike out coach despite overtime WNBL win
Melissa Woods |
Adelaide have dumped WNBL coach Kerryn Mitchell just days after she steered the Lightning to a thrilling overtime win against Geelong.
In seven matches, Mitchell’s record was 3-4 with Adelaide in fifth spot on the competition ladder.
The club didn’t provide a reason for the split but said it was effective immediately, with Mitchell the third head coach to depart the club in less than a year.
A former Canberra captain, she follows Nat Hurst and former NBL coach Scott Ninnis, who wasn’t reappointed when it looked like the franchise would fold earlier this year.
“We’re grateful for Kerryn’s commitment to the club and we wish her well,” Lightning chief executive Melanie MacGillivray said in a statement.
Adelaide assistant coach Georgia Crouch will step up as interim coach with her first match against Townsville at the South Australian State Basketball Centre on Tuesday night.
On Friday night, Steph Talbot stepped up Lightning to deliver a 99-93 overtime victory against the Geelong Venom.
With 34 lead changes, Talbot scored 32 points as well as posting nine rebounds and five assists.
Scores were tied at full-time, triggering the first overtime of the season with Talbot firing seven points to see out the win.
AAP
