Preview: Women's Division One Week 4

Just three fixtures down for decision in the gameweek four of Women's Division One on the October Bank Holiday weekend. 

Limerick Celtics vs Oblate Dynamos, Saturday, 1645

Oblate Dynamos travel to Limerick Celtics still awaiting their first win of the campaign after a 75-67 defeat to iSecure Swords Thunder last weekend, though they did lead that contest against the league leaders into the third quarter. 

Heather Meagher and Adia Brisker stepped up to help Sophie Staunton with the scoring burden in that one, however it looks like they will need to up their points per game totals in order to remove the zero in their win column. They've averaged 65.7ppg so far this season, with the average winning score of a game in the Women's Division One closer to 80-points. 

The home side found Abbey Seals Dublin Lions too hot to handle in their last outing, but will see this as an ideal opportunity to get back to 2-2 on the season and stay in the hunt of what is proving to be a very tight promotion scrap in the early goings. Shelby Harmeyer continued her strong start to life in the league with a 30-point double-double (10 rebounds) against Lions. Celtics did shoot 38 times from outside the arc in that defeat. Expect them to use the inside presence of Sabhbh Edwards-Murphy and scoring ability of Louise Scanell a lot more on Saturday afternoon. 

iSecure Swords Thunder vs McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles, Saturday, 1730

The game of the weekend sees the top two in the table meet at ALSAA, with the away team looking for a first win against their hosts since December 2022. iSecure Swords Thunder had the measure of McEvoy's Cavan Eagles in both their meetings last year and will enter their home gym as favourites once more. 

Makayla Miller has picked up where Jensen Caretti left off for Paul Carr's team in their League Trophy winning campaign of 2023/24, averaging a double-double (27 points, 13.5 rebounds) through the opening three rounds. Who is chosen to match up with her defensively will go a long way to deciding which way this game goes at the final buzzer. Peggy Black remained out last weekend, her return would be a big boost to iSecure Swords Thunder ahead of their biggest game of the season. 

McEvoy's Cavan Eagles games are the lowest scoring in the Women's Division One thus far. They have the best defense in the league at the moment, holding their opponents to just 50 points per game, though they have played one less fixture than their opponents this week thus far. Head Coach John Stephens brought out the best in his side as they knocked off the free-scoring Limerick Sport Huskies on the road ahead of this contest. Lanetta Williams and Rahmena Henderson combined for 38 points, 19 rebounds and 7 assists in that win. 

Moy Tolka Rovers vs Cleveland Rockets, Sunday, 1330

Moy Tolka Rovers come off a bye week looking to keep the momentum of their Dublin derby win over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions going and move up the Women's Division One table. 

Brahe Ashton has been a bright spark in Suzanne Maguire's offense in the opening rounds. The Nottingham native is shooting 44% from the field and 83% from the line, averaging 20.5 points in the first two games since her switch from Midland Park Portlaoise Panthers in the off-season. Moy Tolka Rovers enter the game shooting significantly better from beyond the three-point mark (39% vs 29%), but you'd expect that to come down a notch or two as they play more games. 

One area coach Maguire will be asking them to tidy up is their turnover ratio. Rovers have committed 20 turnovers per game so far this season compared to 14.3 of Cleveland Rockets. 

For their 0-3 record to start the season, things are far from doom and gloom for Rockets head coach Breda Dick - who will be aware that one win could spark a winning run for a very young, talented Irish core. Caitlin Gloeckner is adjusting to the drop down from the Women's Super League as expected, while the Ireland U16 captain Aoibheann Donnelly is also getting significant minutes (21:07) for the group. She will be asking for more consistency shooting the basketball though. Rockets have the most quarters with single digit scoring in the Women's Division One this season (4), while Jessica Fairweather, who had 28 points against Limerick Celtics in week two, could only muster eight points a week later in that 57-51 loss to Templeogue BC. 

Women's Division 1 24-25