Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell and Flomax Liffey Celtics opened up a two-game advantage at the top of the MissQuote.ie Super League, staying unbeaten by seeing off both last season's finalists in DCU Mercy and The Address UCC Glanmire.
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell recorded a 87-54 win which brings them to 5-0. Ultimately it was the efficiency with which the home team were making shots in the paint that caught out the visitors.
DCU Mercy shot the ball well to keep pace with that explosive Brunell offence in the first half, but couldn’t get enough stops defensively to claw back the first-half deficit.
That performance is even more impressive given Flomax Liffey Celtics ramped up the pressure by holding on for a 75-68 win against The Address UCC Glanmire on Saturday night.
In a game where neither team could find their range from beyond the arc, it was the effectiveness of Tianna Ayulo and Áine O’Connor on the glass that stood out. Both had 11 rebounds, 10 offensively that gave their shooters second and third opportunities.
Grinding out wins is always the benchmark of a good team, so that aspect will have please head coach Karl Kilbride. His opposite number Mark Scannell has plenty of food for thought ahead of a Cork derby with the league leaders in six day’s time.
With SETU Waterford Wildcats enjoying their bye week, it was an opportunity for Killester to move level with them in third place and they duly obliged.
Jiselle Thomas is quickly becoming one of the best offensive players in the league and she showed her class throughout a 91-79 win against University of Galway Mystics.
Kara McCleane picked up where she left off following injury with a 32-point double-double in defeat for Mystics who remain locked with Portlaoise Panthers at the foot of the table.
The Panthers stay in 10th, as they succumbed to a Grainne Dwyer- and Ariel Johnson-inspired Catalyst Fr Mathews in Cork on an 83-73 scoreline.
Just three points separated the teams entering the final quarter but seven points apiece from Dwyer and Johnson, as well as a further six from Shannon Brady gave Pat Price a maiden win of the season.
Elsewhere, Trinity Meteors made it successive wins for the first time this season in a 96-87 victory over Ulster University.
The game was tied 83-83 with 2:51 on the clock before a scintillating 13-4 run saw Hilary Netsinyanwa pick up his first win on the road as head coach.
Back-to-back three point shots from Yvette Adriaans and Grace Prenter set the run in motion and although Ulster University reduced the arrears thanks to Ance Aizsila, it was a pair of free-throws from Celena Taborn and Morgan Lenahan that were decisive.
