However, they dropped two bonus points in the process so miss out on the right to host the Minor Semi-Final. Lightning finished fourth, booking an elimination final against Queensland rivals the Firebirds.

"It wasn't pretty today but it was important that we got the right amount of points that put us through to finals," Lightning captain Geva Mentor told AAP. 

The Vixens faced a spate of late-season injuries including the loss of shooter Mwai Kumwenda sustaining an ACL injury and pushed Lightning hard in the first quarter to claim a bonus point and a glimmer of hope.

But after losing the second and third quarters, their chance of making finals was eliminated.

The Vixens refused to back down and accept their finals hopes had been dashed.

The Vixens came within three goals of the away side with the Lightning losing the final quarter 15-11 to cost them a chance of moving into third place.