The former Australian captain, dropped on 18, went berserk after a slow start to finish unbeaten on 90 off 55 balls as the Stars reached 4-173 on Friday.
A storm hit, reducing the Scorchers' chase to 95 off nine overs in a tweak that could have favoured the chasers.
But the Stars jumped all over the Scorchers, who finished their chase 8-78.
Fresh off a century, Beth Mooney reached 14 off six balls with three boundaries before Kim Garth's (2-16) clever slower ball brought her undone.
Wickets fell regularly, Annabel Sutherland hitting the top of Sophie Devine's off-stump to further stall momentum.
The Scorchers kept swinging but were never truly in the hunt, Sophie Day taking 3-7 from her only over.
Earlier Lanning, coming off a brisk 60 in a rain-spoiled affair earlier this week, made the most of the life given to her when Ebony Hoskin spilled a chance at short third man.
She cruised to 35 before exploding with three boundaries and a six to go to 50 off 35 balls.
The boundaries kept coming - Devine (0-42) punished in particular - before Lilly Mills (2-22) pegged the Stars back with late wickets that starved Lanning of the strike in the final three overs.
"I couldn't get it off the square in the last two overs, fell off a cliff there," Lanning, who has retired from international cricket, said.
"But I found my rhythm and was nice to be able to go on with it.
"I've got an idea of how much I need to train to be ready and … I'm certainly enjoying myself."
Lanning reflected on her 2015 debut in the league's inaugural season that came against former tennis world No.1 Ash Barty, who had stepped away from tennis to make a cricket cameo.
"It's been an incredible competition," she said
"I remember I played my first two games in one day, so it's come a long way."
The Strikers then cruised to victory against defending champions Melbourne Renegades, imports Sophie Ecclestone (2-24) and Laura Wolvaardt (71 not out off 48) starring in the seven-wicket win.
The Renegades (9-141) started well thanks to Courtney Webb (46 off 39) and looked set to post a challenging total with Georgia Wareham (30 off 23) peppering the ropes.
But English spinner Ecclestone took Wareham's wicket and the innings stalled before South African star Wolvaardt oozed class to seal the result with 14 balls to spare.
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