Women’s Super League leaders, SETU Waterford Wildcats had to delve the last of their reserves to dig out a thrilling 70-66 victory over a tenacious Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers in Mercy College on Saturday evening.
This titanic battle saw both sides deadlocked on six occasions throughout the final quarter, Wildcats edging the victory after Ashia McCalla converted two from the free-throw line and another from the floor over the closing minute and a half.
Sarah Hickey and Chelsea Cain, with their combined 30 points and 27 rebounds, were also crucial to this success for Waterford against a Portlaoise side for whom Lynn Tunnah and Amy Dooley racked up 19 apiece, the latter also mopping up 14 rebounds.
“It was a very hard-fought battle tonight against Portlaoise” admitted Jillian Hayes, SETU Waterford Wildcats head coach.
“I’m just happy to get it over the line and end the year on a win. We are carrying a lot of injury, so hopefully the Christmas rest will do us the power of good”, she added.
Samantha Haiby served up 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists to help see defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester stave off a dogged Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell outfit for an 86-78 road win on Saturday.
Hannah Thornton weighed in with an additional 16 points and seven rebounds for the Dubliners who were very much kept on their toes by their Cork rivals, for whom Danielle O’Leary and Deaja Richardson delivered a combined 44 points.
Catalyst Fr. Mathews turned the screw on Utility Trust St. Paul’s in the second half of their Women’s Super League clash on Saturday afternoon, holding their Kerry rivals to just 15 points in that period as they ran out 68-47 winners in Fr. Mathews Arena.
Looking to make a swift return to winning ways following their 10-point reversal at the hands of Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, the Cork side were helped on their way by Shannon Brady’s 24-point total, while Kyra White and Grainne Dwyer chipped in with a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds.
Trinity Meteors afforded the struggling University of Galway Mystics a maximum quarter-return of just 10 points as they rampaged to 131-31 demolition of the Super League table props in Coláiste Íosagáin on Saturday.
The Dublin side had no less than seven players in double figures by the close of proceedings, Emma Merriweather inflicting huge damage with 28 points and 22 rebounds, while Sarah Kenny, on 11 points, also mopped up 11 loose balls under the boards.
In Men’s Division One, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers kept their unbeaten record intact heading into Christmas after they ran out 93-76 winners over Joels Dublin Lions to go 10 and 0 at the top of the North Conference.
Titans recorded a 98-83 success over Killarney Cougars in Presentation Gym, while Scotts Lakers Killarney fought back from 11 points down late in the second quarter to beat SETU Waterford Vikings 78-69 in Killarney Sports and Leisure.
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
