By Ross O’Donoghue
DCU Mercy are took control of the Basketball Ireland Women’s Premier League with a comprehensive 72-55 win over reigning champions Team Montenotte Hotel. The result consigned Team Montenotte Hotel to back-to-back defeats for the first time in over two years while Mercy are now unbeaten and three points clear at the top of the table.
“The rivalry between these teams is well documented,” said DCU Mercy Head Coach Mark Ingle. “Both teams probably know we’re going to be in contention at the end of the season. Psychologically it was a good win for us.”
DCU trailed by seven points at the break but forced the tempo and pulled off a 15-point swing in the third quarter. Sarah Woods’ 24 haul included a pair of three-pointers that quelled a mini-comeback in the fourth quarter.
Elsewhere Pyrobel Killester scored 97 points, the most by any side in over 18 months, to beat UL Huskies. “We had six players in double figures and everybody scored so we’re happy,” said winning Coach Karl Kilbride. “The next four weeks could shape our season so it’s important to keep the intensity up. There were also wins for Maxol WIT Wildcats and Courtyard Liffey Celtics.
GCD Swords Thunder are back in the top half of the Men’s Premier League thanks to an 82-70 win at Pyrobel Killester. “It just puts us back in the hunt again,” said Thunder Coach Dave Baker. “We’re starting to play for each other and believe in the system. Beating Killester on their own court is massive.”
C&S UCC Demons moved to the top of the table on points difference with a 105-83 win over Belfast Star. Templeogue were comfortable winners of the South Dublin Derby over Eanna while UCD Marian kept up the pressure with a 67-46 away win at UL Eagles.
Men’s Premier League: UL Eagles 46, UCD Marian 67; Pyrobel Killester 70, GCD Swords Thunder 82; Belfast Star 83, C&S UCC Demons 105; SSE Airtricity Moycullen 84, DCU Saints 68; Eanna BC 57, Templeogue 88.
Women’s Premier League: Courtyard Liffey Celtics 83, Portlaoise Panthers 61; Pyrobel Killester 97, UL Huskies 51; Maxol WIT Wildcats 62, Meteors 53; DCU Mercy 72, Team Montenotte Hotel 55.
Men’s Division One: Fr Mathews 71, ITC Basketball 72; Kestrels 84, C&S Blue Demons 71; JM&L Auctioneers Titans 79, Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin 98; BFG Neptune 77, KUBS 87
Women’s Division One: Ulster Rockets 83, NUIG Mystics 58; Oblate Dynamos 66, ITC Basketball 55; Marble City Hawks 65, Longford Falcons 43.
Hula Hoops Women’s National Intermediate Club Championships: Muckno Lakers 83, Mallow BC 47.
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