Ruby polishes off Sydney Comets in 33-point blowout

• ‍WNBL stars add 'Fire' to NBL1 rosters in 2026‍
• Scores of NBL players flood NBL1 rosters in 2026‍
• How to watch every NBL1 game LIVE and FREE
• NBL1 Ladder

Round 5 of the 2026 NBL1 East women’s competition reinforced the separation at the top, with contenders asserting control and mid-table teams battling for position.

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai delivered one of the most dominant performances of the round, while Newcastle Falcons showed composure under pressure to secure a critical road win. Across the board, defensive intensity and execution under pressure defined outcomes.

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders 84 def. Sydney Comets 51 – Watch the Replay

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 16–19, 26–15, 21–11, 21–6
• Largest Lead: 33 points (Hornsby)
• Game Context: Hornsby flipped the game in the second quarter and controlled from there

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders took control in the second quarter and extended their advantage across the second half to secure an 84–51 win over Sydney Comets.

Class of 2026 star guard Ruby Perkins, who will play for the California Golden Bears in the NCAA next season, led the Spiders with 24 points and eight rebounds, finishing efficiently inside. Kristina Moore added 17 points with four made threes, while fellow Class of 2026 star Jessie-May Hall impacted both ends with 12 points, seven assists and six steals.

After trailing at quarter time, Hornsby outscored Sydney 68–32 across the final three periods, driven by defensive pressure and ball disruption. The Spiders recorded 16 steals and forced 25 turnovers, consistently generating transition opportunities.

Sydney struggled to establish offensive rhythm, shooting 31.75% from the field. Alexandria Oliver (11 points, nine rebounds) and Elle Fletcher (11 points) were the primary contributors, but scoring dried up as Hornsby tightened defensively.

The result strengthened Hornsby’s position as a finals contender, built on defensive identity and balanced scoring.

Newcastle Falcons 79 def. Sutherland Sharks 75 – Watch the Replay

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 19–15, 28–16, 9–22, 23–22
• Largest Lead: 16 points (Newcastle)
• Game Context: Newcastle built early control and held off a third-quarter surge

Newcastle Falcons built a first-half buffer and held firm late to defeat Sutherland Sharks 79–75 in a tightly contested matchup.

Kate Kingham led Newcastle with 23 points, including five three-pointers, while Meg Jefferson added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Nicole Munger contributed across the board with 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Newcastle’s 28–16 second quarter created separation, giving them a 47–31 halftime lead before Sutherland responded with a 22–9 third period to cut the margin.

Abigail Curtin led the Sharks with 24 points on efficient shooting, supported by Madeleine Norris (23 points, nine rebounds). Despite closing the gap, Sutherland were unable to convert late opportunities as Newcastle executed in key moments.

The win reinforced Newcastle’s position inside the top tier, highlighting their ability to close games under pressure.

What the Round Told Us

• Hornsby’s defensive profile is now translating to consistent wins
• Newcastle can absorb runs and still close games
• Turnovers continue to separate mid-table teams from contenders
• Top teams are controlling games through defence, not just scoring

Watchlist – Round 6

• Bankstown vs Manly – top-end test for both teams
• Norths vs Newcastle – potential finals preview
• Comets vs Hills – response game after heavy loss