East Spotlight | Falcons prevail on Munger triple-double

Featured image: @leetaylorimages

It might not have been as dominant as the three-time NBL1 East MVP can be, but Nicole Munger had another strong triple-double as the Newcastle Falcons made it three straight beating the Canberra Nationals 75-57.

The Falcons were back home on Sunday afternoon at Newcastle Basketball Stadium having won their past two matches after a first up loss to the Norths Bears with the Nationals arriving trying to bounce back from the previous evening's loss to the Maitland Mustangs.

Canberra did their best to hang in there through three quarters but Newcastle took over in the last term with 20 points to nine to secure the 18-point victory with not only Munger's triple-double, but with her receiving plenty of help along the way.

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Newcastle improved to 3-1 on the season with the win to make it three on the trot with three-time MVP Nicole Munger providing a trademark triple-double made up of 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Kate Kingham added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Meg Jefferson 15 points and nine boards, Sophie Brennan 13 points, five rebounds and three steals, Rose Bond 10 points, two assists and two steals, and Claudea Waihape-Andrews eight points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Canberra are now 1-3 to start the season as they await the arrival of Caitie Jones to provide some added firepower after they shot just 38 per cent from the field and 3/18 from deep for the game to go with having 24 turnovers.

Allison Day top-scored with 19 points and eight rebounds with Skye Rees adding 15 points and five boards, Jasmyn Boutzos six points, four rebounds and four assists, and Callie Bourne six points, six boards and five assists.

The Falcons were back home on Sunday hunting a third straight win and made a strong start with a 9-0 run in the first quarter helping them to the 24-18 advantage by quarter-time.

Kate Kingham and Meg Jefferson had combined for 14 of those 24 points as they shot 53 per cent from the field opposed to the 41 from the Nationals.

The lead got out to double figures for the first time early in the second period but Canberra hit back and 13 first half points from Allison Day helped keep the visitors in touch going into half-time.

Newcastle were only leading 41-36 with Canberra ending up shooting slightly better by half-time going 45 per cent to the 42 from the Falcons, but the home team got to the line 12 times to seven with both teams combining for 24 turnovers.

The scoring considering dried up in the third quarter with just 26 points between them with Newcastle leading 55-48 after three but there were again another seven turnovers in the term across the two sides.

Canberra only managed the nine points in the fourth quarter on 3/14 shooting and with another seven turnovers as Newcastle took control for good for the 18-point victory to make it three in-a-row.

Newcastle remain at home on Anzac Day to host the Centre of Excellence while Canberra are also back home next Saturday to play host to the Penrith Panthers.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 3

NEWCASTLE FALCONS 75 (Forster 31, Weir 13, Burton 13)

CANBERRA NATIONALS 57 (Beggs 17, Rettstatt 14, Zugna 9)