NBL1 East Recap | Saturday Women's Round 4

Lauren Jackson delivered another match-winning performance in Saturday night's NBL1 East action for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits while there were also Round 4 wins for the Norths Bears, Maitland Mustangs and Sutherland Sharks.

There were four matches on Saturday night in Round 4 of the NBL1 East competition and once again it was Lauren Jackson who put on a show in the 97-80 victory for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at the Sports Centre named in her honour.

She finished with a stunning 31 points and 24 rebounds in the win.

Also on Saturday night, the Norths Bears defeated the Central Coast Crusaders 70-51 with Riley Evans delivering 24 points in the win.

The Maitland Mustangs won a thriller 70-69 against the Canberra Nationals at Maitland Federation Centre while Mikaela Dombkins put up 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Abby Solway scored 20 points for the Nationals.

The Sutherland Sharks also scored the 79-45 victory against the Inner West Bulls at ELS Hall Park. Lauren Nicholson finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Sharks.

The Round 4 action will wrap on Sunday with the Hills Hornets hosting the Illawarra Hawks, and the Newcastle Falcons taking on the Canberra Nationals. 

NBL1 EAST – 2022 WOMEN'S SEASON
ROUND 4 – SATURDAY NIGHT

INNER WEST BULLS 45 lost to SUTHERLAND SHARKS 79

The Sutherland Sharks continued their undefeated start to the NBL1 East season with an impressive win on the road to the Inner West Bulls on Saturday night.

The Sharks started impressively with 15 points to seven in the first quarter at ELS Hall Park and extended their advantage at every change on the way to the eventual 79-45 victory.

The win improves Sutherland to a perfect 4-0 record on the season while Inner West are now 0-6.

Lauren Nicholson was impressive for the Sharks with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals with Madeleine Norris contributing 15 points, six boards and three assists, Olivia White 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Audra Pasakarnis 12 points.

Maja Peric finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls and Abby O'Flynn 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 70 defeated CANBERRA NATIONALS 69

The Maitland Mustangs and Canberra Nationals were both hunting their second victories of the 2022 season on Saturday night, and they played out quite the thriller at Maitland Federation Centre.

It turned out to be an outstanding contest between the two teams with the Nationals opening up an 18-12 lead by quarter-time before the Mustangs turned things around with 21 points to 13 in the second period.

Canberra scored another 21 points to 17 in the third term and then it was Maitland on their home floor who dug deep to come away with the eventual 70-69 win thanks to five late points from Hannah Fox.

Mikaela Dombkins put up 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Mustangs with Fox finishing with 13 points, 11 boards, five assists and two steals.

Hannah Griffin added 11 points and two steals, Victoria Unicomb 11 points and six rebounds, and Shannon Burton seven points.

Abby Solway finished with 20 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists for Canberra, Yar Mayen 13 points, Natasha Lyall 12 points and five boards, and Chloe Tugliach eight points and eight rebounds.

NORTHS BEARS 70 defeated CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 51

The Norths Bears continued their winning start to the NBL1 North Women's season with a win at home on Saturday night against the Central Coast Crusaders.

The Bears put their undefeated record on the line at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre while the Crusaders were looking for their first win of the season.

It was Central Coast who started well with 16 points to 15 in the first quarters but Norths ended up working their way on top the rest of the way to come out with the 70-51 victory.

Riley Evans was tremendous for the Bears with 24 points, three rebounds and two assists on the back of knocking down 6/12 from three-point range.

Emily Simons added 13 points, four steals, three assists and two blocks, Madeleine O'Hehir 12 points and three boards, and Sarah Schicher seven points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Sara Matthews top-scored for the Crusaders with 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals while Jonalyn Wittwer added 11 points and nine boards, Bronte Moore 12 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS 97 defeated MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 80

The remarkable comeback of the all-time great Lauren Jackson saw her grace her home court bearing her name on Saturday night and she was an unstoppable force once more against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Jackson has shown just why she could well be Australian's greatest ever basketballer by the way she has been able to return for the Albury-Wodonga Bandits having come out of retirement to do so and have the type of dominance she has shown.

She led her team out onto Lauren Jackson Sports Centre on Saturday night and with a packed house in attendance to watch on, she put on quite the show to lead the Bandits to another victory.

Jackson was just incredible and unstoppable in her 29 minutes on the floor, finishing with 31 points and 24 rebounds on 10/27 shooting from the field and 9/11 from the free-throw line.

She got some good support too in the 17-point win with Brodie-Paige Theod putting up 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Ai Yamada also had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Jade McCowan 12 points and four rebounds.

Alex Delaney finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Sea Eagles, Maja Jurlina 12 points and two rebounds, Antonia Henderson 12 points, five rebounds and four steals, Meg Jeffs 11 points and six boards, Rose Nelson 10 points, three assists and three steals, and Bree Delaney 10 points and four rebounds.