Defending champions Sunshine Coast proved too hot for Adelaide to handle in the first Super Netball match played in Darwin.
In a tight tussle at the top end's new Marrara Netball Centre, the Lightning posted a 59-53 victory over the Thunderbirds thanks a dominant final quarter.
Lightning goal shooter Peace Proscovia sat out the first three quarters but made her presence well and truly felt with a starring role in the final term to deliver the win.
Lightning skipper Laura Langman, who was named player of the match, said it was a tough win.
"It was a real grind," the New Zealand Test veteran told Channel Nine.
"We needed to show we had patience and lay the foundations first as we were disappointed with the product we put out there last week."
Sunshine Coast looked like they might run away with the match after taking a 29-25 lead into halftime.
But the Thunderbirds' Kiwi ace Maria Folau thought differently and calmly slotted 11 goals from 11 attempts to give her team a 43-42 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Lightning then turned to Proscovia, replacing Cara Koenen (30/32) at goal shooter, and they opened up a three-goal lead before surging ahead as the clock wound down.
Proscovia finished with 15 goals from 16 attempts in her final quarter stint while Folau, who was kept to six goals, finished with 27 goals from 31 attempts.
The Lightning went into the round seven match in third place after a heavy defeat by the Vixens last week, which stalled their run of four successive wins.
They picked up six points for the win while the Thunderbirds, who sit second last, left with two points after winning the first and third quarters.
