NBL1 East Recap | Sunday Round 4

It was a double win Sunday afternoon for the Central Coast Crusaders in the NBL1 East with Sara Matthews delivering 37 points with nine three-pointers in an unstoppable display against the Penrith Panthers. 

The Sunday Round 4 NBL1 East action saw the Crusaders women beat the Panthers 84-63 after Central Coast's men defeated Penrith 86-75.

WOMEN

Matthews hits nine threes in big win for Crusaders

The Central Coast Crusaders proved too strong at home on Sunday afternoon coming away with the 84-63 win against the Penrith Panthers.

The Crusaders started strongly with 26 points to 14 in the opening quarter and then it was a relatively tight affair the rest of the way but the home team did enough to secure the eventual 21-point win over the Panthers.

Sara Matthews was brilliant in the win for Central Coast ending the afternoon with 37 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while draining a phenomenal 9/17 from three-point territory.

Mikaela Miller added 11 points, two rebounds and two blocks, and Darneka Rowe nine points and four assists.

Tahlia Tupaea delivered 20 points, five rebounds and five assists for Penrith, Meg Jefferson 14 points, six boards and two blocks, and Frances Spadina 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

MEN

Crusaders capitalise on strong start to keep Panthers winless

The Central Coast Crusaders started strongly to set up an eventual 86-75 home win against the winless Penrith Panthers on Sunday.

The Crusaders were back at home at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium to host a Panthers team still hunting their first NBL1 East victory, but Central Coast started well to lead 46-32 by half-time.

While Penrith made a game of it in the second half, the Crusaders did enough to hold on for the 11-point win.

Will Bates top-scored for Central Coast with 16 points and five rebounds while drilling 4/8 of his attempts from beyond the arc.

James Trustum added 15 points and nine rebounds, Luke Cassidy 13 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals, Isaiah Waiter 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Aaron Redhead 12 points and 15 boards.

Caleb Fetui-Fa'amoe did all he could to try and lift Penrith to that first win with 24 points and 16 rebounds on 11/17 shooting from the floor.

Kaylis Beaumont also had 18 points on 4/4 three-point shooting with Pranaya Sakya contributing 12 points and six assists.

Make way for James Trustum ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 2, 2023