Karaitiana scored 40 points on 14-24 shooting in the Brisbane Spartans' 93-60 win over Albury Wodonga, earning the guard a SEABL player of the week nomination in the process.

Her performance helped the Spartans to their fifth straight win.

The Spartans (10-8), Dandenong Rangers (11-8), Ballarat Rush (10-10) and Bendigo Lady Braves (9-10) are locked in battle for three remaining finals berths in the east conference behind leaders Nunawading.

The Lady Braves host the Spartans at Bendigo Stadium on Sunday in a crucial game for both teams.

Karaitiana scored nine of her 40 points against the Bandits in the opening quarter.

She doubled the next highest player’s point total for the game and hit an incredible 8-14 from the three-point line, out-scoring her opposition by 18.

In a solid all-round display, Karaitiana contributed six rebounds, three assists and a steal.

The former Australian under-19 player signed with the Spirit in June, after a stint in the US college system with the University of Hawaii.

She is averaging 16.9 points and 6.6 rebounds this season for the Spartans.

New Zealand-born Karaitiana played small forward for Australia’s under-19 team at the 2011 world championships in Chile.