Jaz Shelley has shown Sydney Flames selectors that they made a worthwhile decision to recruit her, as the star guard steered her new team to a 95-68 victory over the Adelaide Lightning.
Despite having her face held together with a headband after suffering an eyebrow gash, Shelley was inspirational in Sydney's second win of the WNBL season at the Quaycentre on Sunday.
Her 20 points, along with four rebounds and two steals, were crucial and followed her dazzling display (14 points, nine assists) against the Southside Melbourne Flyers on Friday.
But it wasn't just the Geelong Venom recruit who brought the fireworks, as guard Lauren Nicholson secured a double-double (19 points, 12 boards) while Chinese international Yang Shuyu had 20 points.
"With the short prep of people coming in late, I'm pretty happy with this game, especially after playing on Friday night," coach Renae Garlepp said.
"To have a crowd like that ... It's such a home advantage ... So today was very special."
Adelaide played their first game of the season since enduring a mammoth roster turnover in which only two of their players stayed on from last season.
One of them, captain Steph Talbot, didn't even feature as she recovers from the WNBA season, although import Shay Ciezki showed the Lightning that they have a genuine star, posting 17 points and two steals.
The American has huge shoes to fill after replacing last season's breakout player of the year Dallas Loughridge, who departed the club for college.
Opal Zitina Aokuso (12 points, 10 rebounds) was also busy in her first outing since moving to Adelaide in the off-season, but her side simply couldn't match Sydney's second-half sharp shooting.
"We didn't quit. We kept playing, and we know that there's another level," coach Aja Parham-Ammar said.
"There was just some fatigue, a little bit of (a lack of) cohesiveness, being our first time together. But this is game one."
Ciezki shone in a low-scoring first period, piling on eight points despite the Flames taking a 17-16 lead into quarter time.
Adelaide went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter, but Shelley sparked Sydney back to life and they increased their advantage to seven points at halftime.
The Flames continued to up the ante in the third, and a pinpoint triple by Opal Issie Bourne moments before the buzzer put the home team in the box seat for the win.
Adelaide couldn't stop Sydney's offensive onslaught, along with relentless defence in the final quarter, and the Flames cruised to victory.
