At a packed and rowdy Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Firebirds simply couldn't keep pace with the high-flying home team as they charged to a 24-point win.
Desperate to make amends for the 27-point hiding suffered earlier this season at the hands of the Thunderbirds, the Firebirds began Saturday's game strongly with a pair of Suncorp Super Shots by Te Paea Selby-Rickit meaning the visitors trailed by just three at the end of a tight first quarter.
The hosts extended that lead to six by the main break, with Emily Moore unlucky to miss a couple of Suncorp Super Shots as the Firebirds tried all they could to close the gap.
It was the third quarter however when the Thunderbirds took control, capitalising on any turnover by the Firebirds to take the term 19-11 and surge to a dominant 14-point lead at the final change.
From there it was one-way traffic as the hosts won the final term by 10 goals to secure a dominant win.
Kiwi duo Selby-Rickit and Maddy Gordon were arguably the Firebirds best performers on a tough evening, with Selby-Rickit finishing with 19 points including three Suncorp Super Shots while Gordon - in just her second match back from a hamstring injury - completed 60 minutes and recorded 14 goal assists including 32 feeds.
The Firebirds are back on the road next weekend when they head to John Cain Arena to face the Melbourne Vixens.
