Sunshine Coast Lightning have banked back-to-back wins for the first time this season with Reilley Batcheldor helping keep the Melbourne Vixens at bay in their Super Netball clash.
The Lightning kept a full house at John Cain Arena quiet on Sunday afternoon, posting a 62-50 victory over the home side, who announced post-match that Simone McKinnis would step down at the end of the season after 13 years as coach.
Their fourth win of the season lifted the Lightning to second on the ladder, above West Coast Fever on points differential, while the Vixens remain second-last.
With centre Leesa Mi Mi in constant motion, Lightning goal-shooter Batcheledor topped the scoring with 48 goals from 52 attempts for the match.
Her performance allowed coach Belinda Reynolds to rest star shooter Cara Koenen, under an injury cloud, for the entire match.
The Queenslanders led 14-11 at quarter-time but started to assert their dominance in the second term.
McKinnis switched up her defenders, moving Jo Weston to goal-keeper to try to restrict the scoring, but the Lightning still managed to take a 31-23 lead into halftime.
With Batcheldor bagging 13 goals in the third quarter and the Lightning's defensive end looking rock-solid, that lead was out to a commanding 37-27 heading into the final term.
Former Vixens star centre Liz Watson looked right at home back in Melbourne and continued to control the midcourt as the home side failed to make a dent on the margin.
Lightning goal defence Tara Hinchcliffe, who had five gains, two intercepts and six deflections, was delighted with her team's showing.
"I always feel like playing Vixens is a traditional game of netball, with the moving circles at both ends, it's hard work, " said Hinchliffe, named player of the match.
"Coming into this game we knew that this would potentially mean second on the ladder for us so we wanted to come out and put in that performance, so I'm so proud of the girls."
McKinnis was presented with flowers at the end of the match after celebrating her 200th game as a national league head coach last round.
The Vixens wanted to ensure the milestone wasn't missed, with McKinnis then announcing her departure.
The former Australian Diamonds star guided the Vixens to national league titles in 2014 and 2020, minor premierships in 2017, 2020 and 2022, and to Super Netball grand final appearances in 2022 and 2024.
McKinnis said while her passion for coaching and netball remained, with her contract expiring it was the right time to hand over the reins.
"It has been my privilege to work with so many tremendously talented athletes in my time as head coach, including among the current playing group, and share so much success with them," McKinnis said.
"My commitment and focus remains on guiding the Vixens through the rest of the 2025 season and into finals."
