Returning colossus Suzy Batkovic has lifted Adelaide to the verge of clinching the WNBL minor premiership, which they can secure on Friday against closest rival Bulleen.

Centre Batkovic, who missed the Lightning’s three previous games with a back injury, contributed 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in a dramatic 97-87 overtime win at Bendigo (11-9).

Adelaide trailed by eight in the third quarter, but Batkovic hit a game-tying bucket in the last 15 seconds and the Lightning outscored the Spirit 15-5 in overtime.

Adelaide (17-3) and Bulleen (14-5) will definitely occupy the top two spots.

A victory in one of their two remaining games at home to Bulleen and Dandenong will guarantee the Lightning first place.

The Boomers can only finish top if they win their last three games at Adelaide and home to West Coast and Logan and the Lightning lose each of their last two fixtures.

Bulleen remained in contention with a fine road double in Queensland despite injuries depriving them of three players.

The Boomers won 73-63 at Townsville (12-9) and 83-80 at Logan (10-9), who earlier in the round crashed 65-57 away to lowly Canberra (8-12).

Dandenong (12-8) were the big winner of the week in the five-team scrap for the last three finals spots.

The Rangers leapt from sixth to third, as they overturned a 16-point third quarter deficit to win 91-82 at Sydney (11-9).

In Bendigo, Opals veteran Batkovic played almost 38 minutes in her first game back for Adelaide.

“We probably didn’t want to play her as much as she did in the end,” Adelaide coach Peter Buckle told AAP.

“But overall it’s good to have Suze back in the mix and she handled it OK, which is great news for us.” added Buckle, who expects Jenni Screen to play against Bulleen after missing the Bendigo clash with a broken nose.

Batkovic got plenty of help at the offensive end with Angela Marino and Jo Hill recording personal season high’s of 21 and 20 respectively.

Opals veteran point guard Kristi Harrower paced Bendigo with her season personal best 28-point haul.

National team centre Liz Cambage piled up big numbers in both of Bulleen’s wins, tallying 22 points and 19 rebounds against Townsville and 34 and 14 versus Logan.

Dandenong coach Mark Wright rated his team’s win in Sydney as probably their best of the campaign.

“I think it showed the team has progressed a lot in the last month.” Wright told AAP.

Sara Blicavs tallied 30 points and 10 rebounds as AIS (2-18) enjoyed a 78-63 win over West Coast (2-17) in Alice Springs.