Shyla puts Bruins hot on heels of a play-off spot

• Sitaya Fagan's 32-point, 16-rebound double-double leads BA CoE to victory over Sydney
• Norths Bears demolish Inner West by 46 points with Peggy Schell shooting a perfect 10-from-11 from the field
• Madeleine Norris hits seven triples in Sutherland's thrilling three-point win against Hornsby

Newcastle vs Bankstown — Watch the Replay

The Bankstown Bruins stunned the Newcastle Falcons 87-68 at Newcastle Basketball Stadium. Bruins new signing Shyla Heal, fresh from a try-out with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, led the way with a sensational 29-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Juliunn Redmond added 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists in an impressive all-round display.

Australian Opal Heal signed with the Bruins on Thursday, May 22, 2025. She has already made the Bruins, who have struggled to start the season at 2-8 before Saturday's game, an instant play-offs contender and the proof is already in the pudding as Bankstown handed the ladder-leader Falcons their first loss of the season ... at home.

Nicole Munger recorded a double-double for Newcastle with 16 points and 19 rebounds, but the Falcons struggled from the field, shooting just 32.9% overall. Bankstown took control in the second half, expanding their lead to as many as 19 points. The Bruins converted Newcastle's 10 turnovers into 11 points while displaying greater efficiency from the field (43.1%).

Illawarra vs Hills — Watch the Replay

The Illawarra Hawks secured a dominant 70-39 victory against Hills Hornets at Hills Basketball Stadium. Ella Dent led the way with 17 points on efficient shooting, including 5-from-8 from deep, while Ruby MacDonald and Asha Phillips added 12 points apiece in the comprehensive win.

Illawarra controlled the glass with a commanding 62-31 rebounding advantage, including 22 offensive boards. The Hawks held Hills to a dismal 21.8% shooting from the field, while Kiara Bell impressed with a double-double of 11 points and 17 rebounds. Elizabeth Smith was the lone bright spot for Hills, contributing 12 points in the lopsided defeat.

Manly Warringah vs Central Coast — Watch the Replay

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles dominated the Central Coast Crusaders 75-51 at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium. Kimberley Hodge delivered an outstanding performance with 18 points on perfect 7-from-7 shooting from inside the arc, while Taylor Wurtz recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Jasmine Forcadilla was the standout for Central Coast with 26 points, including an impressive 6-from-9 from three-point range. However, the Crusaders struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 25% overall and 17.6% on two-point attempts. Manly's balanced attack featured four players scoring in double figures as they controlled the paint with a 38-18 advantage in interior points.

Penrith vs Maitland — Watch the Replay

The Penrith Panthers edged the Maitland Mustangs 68-65 in an overtime thriller at Maitland Federation Centre. Mia Heide dominated with a double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Jordan Vasquez added 20 points as the Panthers secured a hard-fought road win.

Shakera Reilly led Maitland with 21 points, including 4-from-13 from three-point range, while Kasey Neubert contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Despite shooting a higher percentage from the field (43.1% to 38.2%), the Mustangs were outscored 40-22 in the paint and couldn't overcome Penrith's interior dominance in the closing stages.

Sutherland vs Hornsby KuRingGai — Watch the Replay

The Sutherland Sharks secured a thrilling 79-76 overtime victory against the Hornsby KuRingGai Spiders at Sutherland Basketball Stadium. Madeleine Norris was exceptional with 30 points, including 7-from-18 from beyond the arc, along with 13 rebounds as the Sharks prevailed in a contest featuring 22 lead changes.

Keira Hudson paced Hornsby with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals, while Jessie May Hall added 17 points and six steals. Both teams struggled with ball control, combining for 46 turnovers in the back-and-forth affair. Sutherland's rebounding edge (60-61) and superior three-point shooting (11 triples to 8) ultimately proved decisive in the nail-biting finish.

Canberra vs Albury Wodonga — Watch the Replay

The Albury Wodonga Bandits demolished the Canberra Nationals 96-64 at Belconnen Basketball Stadium. The Bandits showcased their offensive firepower with three players scoring 20+ points: Caitlyn Jones (23), Riley Lupfer (21), and Emma Mahady (21), with Mahady shooting a perfect 7-from-7 from three-point range.

Carlie Smith posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds for Canberra, but it wasn't enough against the Bandits' offensive onslaught. Albury Wodonga shot a blistering 51.5% from beyond the arc, connecting on 17 triples, while also displaying excellent ball movement with 27 assists. The Bandits led by as many as 32 points in the commanding victory.

Norths Bears vs Inner West — Watch the Replay

Norths Bears (1-0) crushed Inner West Bulls 113-67 at Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatics Centre. Madeleine O'Hehir led the Bears with 26 points, while Peggy Schell delivered an outstanding performance with 25 points on nearly perfect shooting (10-from-11 from the field, including 2-from-2 from three).

Kristina Moore was the lone bright spot for Inner West with 31 points, but the Gladiators were overwhelmed in every aspect. Norths dominated the rebounds (64-40), shot 50.6% from the field to Inner West's 26.9%, and led by as many as 47 points. Carla Pitman added a near double-double with nine points and 17 rebounds for the Bears in the one-sided affair.

BA CoE vs Sydney — Watch the Replay

The Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence defeated the Sydney Comets 85-74 at Comets Stadium. Sitaya Fagan was unstoppable with a double-double of 32 points and 16 rebounds, while Zara Russell added 19 points and Zara Funnell contributed 12 points on 4-from-5 from beyond the arc.

Piper Anderson led Sydney with 26 points, including 5-from-14 from three-point range, while Abigail Curtin added 23 points on efficient 11-from-16 shooting. Despite the loss, Curtin was outstanding in the paint, converting 9-from-12 attempts. The CoE dominated the glass with a 51-36 rebounding advantage and outscored the Comets 52-40 in the paint to secure the victory.