DCU Mercy and WIT Waterford Wildcats lead the way in MissQuote.ie Super League

Defending champions DCU Mercy and WIT Waterford Wildcats lead the way in the MissQuote.ie Super League, after weekend wins.

WIT Waterford Wildcats were 70-67 winners at Singleton SuperValu Brunell in an overtime thriller.

Both sides came into the contest with identical 4-1 records at the top of the Division and the home side held a 13 point lead, 37-24, half-time lead. But that advantage was whittled down to a single point by the end of the third, 45-44, and it would finish 60 apiece forcing overtime. Jaz Walker (24), Kate Hickey (11) and Abby Flynn (10) led scoring for WIT Waterford Wildcats, while Kwanza Murray (22), Edel Thornton (13) and Shannon Ryan (13) were the home sides top scorers.

 WIT Waterford Wildcats head coach Tommy O'Mahony

Tommy O’Mahony, WIT Waterford Wildcats head coach, was relieved to come away with a victory. “It was great game of basketball that could have gone either way. We got off to a slow start, but the girls fought tremendously well to stay in the game and hang on to the coat tails of Brunell, whom had some outstanding individual performances. We got a bit of run in the 4th quarter and manged to push the game into overtime. I thought our fight really showed in overtime and we never gave up when crucial decisions didn't go our way, but we managed to hit some vital scores to get the win. We are delighted to get the win and we know we need to be more clinical on offence if we are to maintain this run.”

DCU Mercy joined WIT Waterford Wildcats on a 5-1 record with a 79-67 success over IT Carlow Basketball on Sunday. After a tight opening quarter, which saw the home side lead 24-21, they stretched their advantage to 52-39 by half-time and never looked back. There were some big scores from Bailey Greenberg (28) and Alarie Mayze (22), while their Irish international duo Hannah Thornton and Rachel Huijsdens had six points each, on their return from their exploits in FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers.

DCU Mercy head coach Mark Ingle said "We were happy with the win today, considering we had no game last week, as it's always hard getting back into a rhythm after a break. Carlow for their part shot the ball extremely well and their performance belied their league position. We need to keep working on areas of our game that need collective improvement."

IT Carlow Basketball’s top scorers were Lucy Coogan (22), Lauren LaPlant (19) and Alyssa Velles (18).

Another returning Irish international, Sorcha Tiernan, top scored for Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics, with 18 points, in their 66-53 win at Trinity Meteors, who were missing one of their Irish internationals, Dayna Finn. Ciara Bracken continued her rich vein of form for Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics, with 17, while Alexis Dillard and Adrienne Jackson had 10 points each for the victors.

 Ireland international Sorcha Tiernan scored 18 points for club side Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics at Trinity Meteors on Saturday 

Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics head coach Ioannis Liapakis feels there is room for improvement for his side. “It was a very difficult game and we’re happy about the result but not with the performance. Defensively we did well, but we had some problems with the rebounds and also offensively we missed a lot of open shots and free throws. Meteors were playing without Dayna Finn, so credit to Vinny O’Keeffe and the rest of the team who fought for 40 minutes and they stayed close to the score. We must continue working hard, because we have huge room for improvement.”

Sinead Keane had 13 points for Trinity Meteors, while Haille Nickerson scored 12 and Niamh Kenny nine.

Killester won 80-69 at Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s with Shannon Powell’s 35-point performance catching the eye, backed up by 19 points from Irish international Michelle Clarke, while Myah Taylor had 16.

 Ireland international Michelle Clarke scored 19 points on her return to club side Killester.

Killester head coach Karl Kilbride was happy with his side’s road victory and singled out Powell for praise. “Delighted to come away with a win. We were short-handed going down and picked up a couple of knocks during the game. It’s a difficult place to get a result, so we’re really happy. They were excellent in transition and hurt us every time we turned it over.

“Offensively we had much better ball movement than we’ve had the last few weeks. Shannon Powell was really excellent all game, getting in the lane and controlling the offence. They’re really tough. We went up 20 multiple times and they just wouldn’t go away, they showed great heart, making us work until the very end.”

Team Garvey's St.Mary's top scorers were Lorraine Scanlon (24), Emma Sherwood (11) and Paris McCarthy (10).

The Address UCC Glanmire won their derby at Fr. Mathews 94-56. They had a 48-26 half-time lead and never looked like relinquishing their advantage after that. Áine McKenna (19), Carrie Jean Shepherd (16) and Claire Melia (15) headed scoring for Mark Scannell’s side. “Yeah really happy with the performance, our defence was really good at times, we set the tone early and that helped us. I thought our younger players off the bench were excellent today they really drove us on. We needed the win and now we have a week to get ready for our clash with DCU Mercy in the Mardyke next Sunday. I think our captain Áine McKenna deserves a special mention, she had 19 again today and I think that is the fourth game in a row she’s done that.”

Gráinne Dwyer had 20 points for Fr. Mathews, with Tricia Byrne on 10, while Anna Lynch grabbed eight. 

In the MissQuote Division 1 Ulster University are five from five, following their 62-49 win over Marble City Hawks. Their scoring was evenly spread between Alex Mulligan (23), Ciara White (13), Abigail Rafferty (11) and Lexi Posset (11). Marble City Hawks offence was led by Áine Sheehy (16), Elaine Kennington (12) and Ann Prendergast (6).

Alex Mulligan scored 23 points for Ulster University in their MissQuote.ie Division 1 win over Marble City Hawks.

NUIG Mystics got back to winning ways with a 32-point 82-50 win over Phoenix Rockets. Hazel Finn (15), Sara Messler (15) and Courtney Cecere (14) headed scoring for the victors, while Georgie McGrath 19, Brooke Alexander 15, Rebecca Barker 6, Anna Brennan 6 were the leading scorers for Phoenix Rockets.

Shannon Cunningham scored almost half of LYIT Donegal’s points, 31, but it wasn’t enough as they were defeated 83-67 at home by Limerick Sport Huskies. Maria Kealy had 16 and NaKeeya Goodman-Boddie notched up 12 for the home side.
Limerick Sport Huskies’s scoring was headed by Yuleska Ramirez Tejeda (27), Emilie Hamel (12) and Kristina Collins (12).

Griffith College Templeouge were 81-72 winners over Tipperary Knights, Akeema Richards (22), Lynn Tunnah (18) and Jah-Leah Ellis (13) helping them to victory, while Tipperary Knights’ top scorers were Rosie Tobin (23), Lilla Szucs (17) and Emma Carey (17).

Portlaoise Panthers came through a low scoring affair with Swords Thunder, 56-40. Portlaoise Panthers top three were Lisa Blaney (9), Sarah Fleming (9) and Gillian Wheeler (8), while for Swords Thunder Peggy Black had 16, followed by Tia Kelly (10), Laura Fortune (6) and Niamh O’Donovan (6).