Spiders Dominate Paint to Beat Crusaders 90-79

The Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders edged past Central Coast Crusaders 90-79 on Saturday night at The Brickpit. The Spiders came out on top with a balanced attack showcasing their inside dominance, outscoring Central Coast 48-26 in the paint. Jessie May Hall led the charge with 20 points and nine boards, while Lucy Mead provided an efficient spark with 19 points on an impressive 89 percent shooting from the field. Hornsby controlled the glass throughout, grabbing 47 rebounds to Central Coast's 40, and connected on 77 percent from the charity stripe while holding the Crusaders to just 42 percent on free throws. Despite the loss, WNBL veteran Leilani Mitchell put on a shooting clinic for the Crusaders, dropping 22 points including six triples on 50 percent shooting from outside. Elizajane Loader added 18 points and snagged four steals, while Mikaela Dombkins contributed 15 points and seven assists. Central Coast moved the ball well with 24 assists but struggled to convert inside, making just 38 percent of their two-point attempts. **HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS 90 (Jessie May Hall 20, Lucy Mead 19, Ay'Anna Bey 15).** **CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 79 (Leilani Mitchell 22, Elizajane Loader 18, Mikaela Dombkins 15).** #NBL1East ?