FloMAX Liffey Celtics got their MissQuote.ie Super League title challenge very much back on the rails after they survived a second-half comeback by fellow contenders Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell to win out 82-69 in Leixlip Amenities Sports Centre on Saturday.
Americans Tianna Ayulo and Alexandra Navarette attacked the basket superbly, putting up a combined 48 on a night that saw the hosts carry a nine-point lead into the second half.
But with Jayla Johnson and Kyaja Williams proving quite a handful for the Celtics defence on the inside and Danielle O’Leary hurting them from the three-point line, Brunell battled back in the third and led by three early in the fourth.
The Kildare side, however, got their defensive set-up sorted just in time to make a crucial surge down the stretch, as Navarette, Rachel Huijsdens and Áine O’Connor, between them, soaked up 38 rebounds to help see their side re-join Pyrobel Killester and Brunell at the top of the table.
“Fair play to Brunell. Every time we thought we were going to put them away, they just kept coming back,” said FloMAX Liffey Celtics head coach, Karl Kilbride, who was demanding a big response from his side in the wake of their loss away to The Address UCC Glanmire the previous week.
“I thought the leadership from the girls was brilliant. Áine was amazing, while Allie and Tianna attacking the basket were great. Everyone just stepped up.
“They’re the games you're going to have to win if you want to win the league.
“But I said to the girls that this win won't mean anything if we don't go and do it again next week and the weeks after,” he stressed.
At the other end of the table, both University of Galway Mystics and Portlaoise Panthers suffered defeat at the hands of Catalyst Fr. Mathews and SETU Waterford Wildcats respectively.
Looking to bounce back quickly from their six-point reversal against Portlaoise the previous week, Catalyst Fr. Mathews ran out 105-81 winners at home against University of Galway Mystics as Ariel Johnson delivered a colossal 46 points for her side.
SETU Waterford Wildcats’ triumph was even more emphatic as they returned home from St. Mary’s Hall celebrating a 104-64 success against their Laois opponents.
Jade Compton turned in a huge performance for the visitors, draining five of her eight attempts from the three-point line on her way to a total of 36 by the final buzzer, while Sarah Hickey and Shanai’jah Davison weighed in with a further 37.
The Address UCC Glanmire made it three wins on the bounce after they beat Ulster University 82-65 in the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.
Cheah Whitsitt turned in another solid showing for last season’s champions with a haul of 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Aine McKenna and Yasriyyah Wazeerud weighed in with a further 27.
Brynley Fitzgerald finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds as DCU Mercy did enough to see off Trinity Meteors at home 68-63.
Hannah Thornton and Rachel Brennan also made significant contributions for the hosts as they totalled 31 points and 19 rebounds between them.
In the MissQuote.ie Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles’ 85-77 loss on the road against Phoenix Rockets earlier in the day meant that Templeogue secured their spot in the league semi-finals without having to bounce a ball. That, however, did not stop them beating North Conference winners iSecure Swords Thunder 73-69 in overtime in North Anglia International School.
South Conference winners St. Paul’s Killarney stormed to a 100-46 victory over Marble City Hawks in O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club, while Limerick Celtics ran out 58-45 winners on the road against Moy Tolka Rovers and Oblate Dynamos emerged 106-83 victors from their Dublin derby at home to Abbey Seals Dublin Lions. Scout Frame amassed a colossal 46 points that inspired Limerick Sport Huskies to an 85-67 victory over SETU Carlow in Barrow Centre on Sunday.
Results:
MissQuote.ie Super League
Saturday February 24th
Portlaoise Panthers 64 - 104 SETU Waterford Wildcats
FloMAX Liffey Celtics 82 - 69 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell
Catalyst Fr. Mathews 105 - 81 University of Galway Mystics
Sunday February 25th
The Address UCC Glanmire 82 - 65 Ulster University
DCU Mercy 68 - 63 Trinity Meteors
MissQuote.ie Division One
Friday February 23rd
Marble City Hawks 46 - 100 St. Paul’s Killarney
Saturday February 24th
Phoenix Rockets 85 - 77 McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles
Moy Tolka Rovers 45 - 58 Limerick Celtics
Oblate Dynamos 106 - 83 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions
Templeogue 73 - 69 iSecure Swords Thunder
Sunday February 25th
SETU Carlow 67 - 85 Limerick Sport Huskies
