Waterford Wildcats see off Killester as race for MissQuote.ie Super League title continues

SETU Waterford Wildcats landed a significant blow to Pyrobel Killester’s MissQuote.ie Super League title ambitions while subsequently bolstering their own after they recorded a big 87-78 victory over the Dubliners in Mercy Gym on Saturday evening.

Shanai’jah Davison was ruthless from the line, converting all but two of her 15 free throws en route to a 34-point haul for the homeside, while Sarah Hickey chipped in with a further 21 points and 12 rebounds to help counter Killester’s most potent attacking threat in Keowa Walters and Claire Melia, who together accounted for 35 points and 23 rebounds respectively.

“It was a tough battle with nothing between the sides,” remarked SETU Waterford Wildcats head coach, Tommy O’Mahony.

“Defensively I thought we really stepped it up in the second half which I feel got us over the line.

“Killester are a good team, but once we had a bit of belief that we could compete with them, it gave us the confidence to push on,” he added.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics capitalised on this setback for their North Dublin rivals by beating Trinity Meteors 84-72 in order to themselves draw level with Killester in second place, having played one game less than both them and Waterford.

Yet again, the combination of Americans Alexandra Navarette and Tianna Ayulo inflicted severe damage for the Leixlip side as they combined for 45 points and 20 rebounds against a Trinity outfit that was heavily reliant on their own American, Morgan Lenahan (27 points).

Fresh from their InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup success the week before, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell extended their lead at the top of the MissQuote.ie Super League to six points after they wore down a competitive Portlaoise Panthers outfit to win out 87-67 in Cork on Sunday.

While Americans Jessica Fressle and Alyssa Velles each put up 21 points for the visitors, Brunell remained in control thanks in no small measure to the 45-point contribution of Jayla Nacole Johnson and Kyaja Victoria Williams, the latter also chalking up a huge 17 rebounds.

The Address UCC Glanmire prolonged the hangover from this season’s InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup Final defeat for Catalyst Fr. Mathews as they emerged victorious 77-71 from Sunday’s Cork derby in the Mardyke Arena.

Seventeen points apiece from Amy Dooley and Yasriyyah Wazeerud went a long way to seeing the defending champions pick up only their seventh win in league action so far this season.

Abigail Rafferty hit 26 points and mopped up 14 rebounds as Ulster University picked up a second straight win on the road, beating University of Galway Mystics 85-67 in the Kingfisher Sports Arena.

In the MissQuote.ie Division One, Templeogue produced a huge fourth-quarter performance to turn an eight-point deficit into a 72-61 victory over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, while North Conference leaders iSecure Swords Thunder had to battle their way back from 12 points down to see off Phoenix Rockets 78-72. Newly-crowned InsureMyHouse.ie Division One Cup champions, Limerick Celtics were pipped 79-78 by Marble City Hawks in O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club, while Oblate Dynamos prevailed 69-66 in the face of a huge challenge by McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in Inchicore. Limerick Sport Huskies recorded a 79-58 victory on the road against Moy Tolka Rovers before South Conference leaders, as St. Paul’s Killarney ran out comprehensive 94-66 winners over SETU Carlow on Sunday.

MissQuote.ie Super League

Saturday January 27

University of Galway Mystics 67 - 85 Ulster University

SETU Waterford Wildcats 87 - 78 Pyrobel Killester

Trinity Meteors 72 - 84 FloMAX Liffey Celtics

Sunday January 28

The Address UCC Glanmire 77 - 71 Catalyst Fr. Mathews

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 87 - 67 Portlaoise Panthers

MissQuote.ie Division One

Saturday January 27

Phoenix Rockets 72 - 78 iSecure Swords Thunder

Templeogue 72 - 61 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions