After starting the season with two impressive wins against the Melbourne Boomers and Dandenong Rangers, the Spirit went down to Perth and Adelaide at the weekend.

Sunday’s loss to Adelaide was a disappointing performance.

The Spirit led 44-43 with five minutes to play in the third quarter, but in the space of three minutes of game time the match was over. 

The Lightning unleashed a 19-2 run to open up a match-winning 16-point lead.

It was more of the same in the final quarter as fatigue set in for the travel-weary Spirit.

The home team outscored the Spirit 27-15 for the quarter to run out convincing 91-63 winners. 

The Lightning dominated the rebounding count 57-44, thanks largely to an MVP performance from Nia Coffey.

The import scored 21 points and pulled down 20 rebounds.

The Spirit couldn’t replicate the offensive efficiency which served the team so well in rounds one and two.

They shot the ball at just 20 per cent from behind the three-point arc and 35 per cent overall.

They were also on the wrong end of the foul count. The home team went to the free throw line 28 times to Bendigo’s 16.

Louella Tomlinson (16 points) and Nadeen Payne (15 points) were the only Spirit players to score in double figures.

A slow start proved costly in Friday night’s loss to Perth.

The Lynx jumped the Spirit to lead 25-10 at quarter-time and by half-time the margin had ballooned to 27 points.

The Spirit made a brave fightback in the second half and with five minutes to go in the match they were within five points.

The Spirit had several opportunities to cut the lead to a one-possession game, but two offensive fouls against import Barbara Turner and missed shots put paid to their hopes of recording a stunning comeback win.

The Lynx steadied and ran out 77-72 winners.

Louella Tomlinson (16), Nat Hurst (14), Kara Tessari (11) and Nadeen Payne (10) scored in double figures for the Spirit.

The third-placed Spirit (2-2) have a return bout with the Adelaide Lightning on Saturday night at Bendigo Stadium.