East Finals | Bandits make it eight in-a-row

Featured image: captured_by_cammo_photography

The Albury Wodonga Bandits were able to make it eight wins in-a-row to suddenly be two more away from an NBL1 East Grand Final spot after the home elimination final win 73-61 over the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders.

After losing five of their opening eight games of the season, the Bandits built impressive momentum the rest of the way to win 10 of the last 12 to qualify for the finals in fifth position with a 13-7 record.

They played host to the Spiders who finished eighth at 10-10 despite having lost their past three games and even without the presence of Last-Tea Poa with an ankle injury, Albury Wodonga were leading 19-13 by the end of the first quarter.

>> EAST FINALS | BEARS AND SHELLEY TOO MUCH FOR COE

>> EAST WRAP | WOMEN'S ROUND 15

It was then another 26 points to 18 in the second quarter for Albury Wodonga which saw them go into half-time leading 45-34 with Kijana McCowan already having 12 points to her name.

The Bandits then only managed 16 points themselves in the third quarter but restricted Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai to just nine on 2/12 shooting with seven turnovers to open up a 61-43 advantage by three quarter-time.

Even with the Spiders winning the last quarter 18 points to 12, the Bandits still prevailed by 12 to make it eight wins on the trot to now set up a semi-final match up with the Centre of Excellence on the road next Saturday.

Albury Wodonga finished the night getting up 17 more shots than Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai on the back of collecting 15 offensive rebounds to seven, and having just 10 turnovers to the 17 from the Spiders.

Kijana McCowan finished up top scoring for the Bandits with 15 points and three rebounds with Unique Thompson adding 14 points, 15 boards, two assists and two steals, and Emily Lytle 14 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Timeeka Coleman also had 12 points, four rebounds and two steals.

The season is now over for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai and they end the campaign losing seven of their last eight games with Kristina Moore top scoring with 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Lucy Mead added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Ay'Anna Bey 13 points, nine boards and two assists.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | ELIMINATION FINAL

ALBURY WODONGA BANDITS 73 (McCowan 15, Thompson 14, Lytle 14)

HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS 61 (Moore 21, Bey 13, Mead 13)