Pyrobel Killester ensured they remain well in contention for this season’s MissQuote.ie Super League crown after they dug out an 81-78 home victory over fellow contenders FloMAX Liffey Celtics on Saturday.
Both sides were looking to bounce back swiftly from their InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup elimination the previous week and it was the Claire Melia-inspired Dubliners who returned to winning ways to keep the heat on Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell at the top.
“Sometimes you have to win while not being at your best, and that's what I feel we did today,” said Pyrobel Killester head coach, Mark Grennell.
“The win is obviously important as we can't afford to fall any further behind. We needed to keep the pressure on those in front,” he stressed.
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell ensured that Killester’s stay at the top was brief as they battled out an 83-74 home win over Trinity Meteors on Sunday.
A mere point separated the two sides at the half-time break, but aided by some solid scoring by Jayla Nacole Johnson (24 points), Edel Thornton (17) and Kyaja Victoria Williams (16), the leaders managed to put a little more daylight between themselves and their Dublin rivals to secure a crucial win.
SETU Waterford Wildcats made it three wins on the bounce in the top tier after they saw off defending champions The Address UCC Glanmire 81-72 in Mercy Gym.
Shanai’jah Davison produced another impressive display with 27 points for the homeside, while Sarah Hickey, fresh from her 40-point performance for Waterford’s Under 20s in their National Cup semi-final victory over FloMAX Liffey Celtics the week before, mopped up 13 rebounds and as many points on Saturday.
Ulster University returned home from St Mary’s Hall having weathered a spirited challenge from strugglers Portlaoise Panthers to earn a 71-57 victory.
Finding themselves 11 points down against their hosts almost midway through the second quarter, Ulster increased their physicality under the boards to produce a comeback that was largely fuelled by Trinity Oliver’s 28 points and 15 rebounds.
DCU Mercy managed to pull clear of University of Galway Mystics over the closing eight minutes to earn a hard-fought 78-73 home win on Sunday, Brynley Fitzgerald again proving invaluable to their cause with 32 points.
MissQuote.ie Super League
Saturday January 13
Pyrobel Killester 81 - 78 FloMAX Liffey Celtics
SETU Waterford Wildcats 81 - 72 The Address UCC Glanmire
Portlaoise Panthers 57 - 71 Ulster University
Sunday January 14
DCU Mercy 78 - 73 University of Galway Mystics
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 83 - 74 Trinity Meteors
MissQuote.ie Division One
Saturday January 13
Phoenix Rockets 70 - 50 Moy Tolka Rovers
McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 80 - 56 Marble City Hawks
St. Pauls Killarney 87 - 64 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions
Sunday January 14
Limerick Sport Huskies 84 - 92 Oblate Dynamos
SETU Carlow 63 - 72 iSecure Swords Thunder
Limerick Celtics 75 - 69 Templeogue
