NBL1 East Recap | Saturday Women's Round 18

Lauren Jackson returned in remarkable fashion for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits on Saturday night in the last round of the NBL1 East regular season with standout performances also from Lizzy Tonks, Nicole Munger and Lauren Nicholson.

There were Saturday wins in the NBL1 East in the last round of the regular season for Canberra Nationals, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Newcastle Falcons, Sutherland Sharks and Albury-Wodonga Bandits.

The Saturday Round 18 NBL1 East action got underway at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium with a big road win for the Canberra Nationals who beat the Central Coast Crusaders 104-74.

The Nationals only suited up six players but Lizzy Tonks again was inspired with 33 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Darneka Rowe top-scored for Central Coast with 20 points.

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles had a strong road win 89-55 against the Maitland Mustangs on Saturday evening.

Kim Hodge delivered 19 points for Manly-Warringah with Alex Delaney adding 15 and Bree Delaney 13. Mikaela Dombkins fought valiantly for the Mustangs with 21 points and 19 rebounds.

The Newcastle Falcons were too strong at home beating the Norths Bears 80-63.

Nicole Munger came up huge for the Falcons with 38 points, 10 rebounds and five steals while draining six three-pointers. Riley Evans scored 23 points for the Bears and Emily Simons 20.

The Sutherland Sharks put together a strong showing on their home court to defeat the Illawarra Hawks 84-71.

Lauren Nicholson was terrific for the Sharks again with 31 points, six rebounds and three assists on 13/18 shooting with Vanessa Panousis adding 18 points and seven assists. Tyler Scaife top-scored for the Hawks with 20 points.

Lauren Jackson was back for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits and delivered a remarkable performance in her team's 115-50 win over the Hills Hornets in a building named in her honour.

Fresh off being named in the Opals' FIBA World Cup team, Jackson was back for the Bandits and was phenomenal with 40 points and 25 rebounds on 18/31 shooting.

Unique Thompson had another 18 points and 11 rebounds while Taryn Mahoney top-scored for the Hornets with 13 points.

The regular season in the NBL1 East will now wrap up on Sunday with the Central Coast Crusaders at home to the Inner West Bulls while the Sutherland Sharks play the Newcastle Falcons, and the Maitland Mustangs play host to the Illawarra Hawks.

NBL1 EAST – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 18 – SATURDAY 

CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 74 lost to CANBERRA NATIONALS 104

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 55 lost to MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 89

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 80 defeated NORTHS BEARS 63

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 84 defeated ILLAWARRA HAWKS 71

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 115 defeated HILLS HORNETS 50