Lightning started strong and continuously showed patience in attack to work the ball to Berri Neil and Sammy Wallace-Joseph. The Lightning defence also starved Pulse of opportunities with multiple interceptions and deflections by Shadine Van De Merwe and Alice Harvey.
Lightning led 52-36 going into the final quarter at the Copper Box and looked comfortable, aiming to build on that advantage over the closing minutes and take the outright league leadership.
However, Pulse fought back in the final quarter to reduce the deficit, but it was ultimately a successful revenge mission for Lightning, who lost to Pulse 77-51 at Sir David Wallace Arena in the second round of the season.
The narrow margin of victory - with Pulse earning a losing bonus point thanks to their fourth-quarter surge - meant the teams are now tied on 25 points after 10 rounds, with the London side ahead on goal difference.
Captain Nat Panagarry was selected as the Long Tall Sally Fan’s Player of the Game and Berri Neil was selected as the Experience Kissimmee Player of the match.
Player of the match Berri Neil, Loughborough Lightning told Sky Sports: "We've all been wanting this round, to come back at Lightning after the first time we played them. We were so unhappy with it - and we knew we had so much more to give. It's still not perfect - we're not happy with that last quarter. It's good to get a win against them, but if we come and play them again at any point we've got to be a lot better than that and we know we can be."
Lightning head coach Vic Burgess: "I'm pleased with the result, but I'm not pleased with the last quarter to be honest. Really pleased with the win but I feel we could have put down a lot more in that fourth quarter."
Lightning’s next match sees them head to Cardiff to take on Cardiff Dragons before a massive fixture against local rivals Nottingham Forest at the Motorpoint Arena.
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