SETU Waterford Wildcats capped off a huge double-game weekend for them in Women's Super League with an enthralling 94-91 overtime victory against defending champions Killester.
Ashia McCalla, who held her nerve on the free-throw line to effectively force overtime, then delivered the buzzer-beating three that separated these two sides at the close of an enthralling contest.
Having barely managed to weather a huge fourth-quarter revival by Trinity Meteors in their narrow 83-79 victory in Coláiste Íosagáin the previous day, Waterford had to again dig very deep to see off a Killester outfit, who, themselves, had carded a 70-52 win over Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers at home on Saturday.
Samantha Haiby served up another big performance with 29 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, but even that could not help inspire Killester to victory, as Wildcats exacted revenge on the Dublin side for their four-point loss on the opening day of the season, Sarah Hickey and McCalla carding a huge 50 points and 30 rebounds between them.
Wildcats remain six points clear at the summit.
After shipping two straight defeats at the hands of Trinity Meteors and SETU Waterford Wildcats, FloMAX Liffey Celtics made a return to winning ways after they saw off Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 77-68 in Parochial Hall on Sunday.
While the Leixlip side made an impressive start, opening up an 11-point lead by the close of the first quarter, Brunell edged the next two to keep their opponents very much on the toes.
Celtics however managed to remain out in front thanks in no small measure to the 50-point total for which Alexandra Navarette and Áine O’Connor combined, along with the additional 10 that Hazel Finn served up in the fourth.
DelJanae Williams put up 26 points and 12 rebounds as The Address UCC Glanmire saw off Catalyst Fr. Mathews 67-56 in their Cork derby on Saturday evening.
Looking to end a run of two defeats, the hosts opened up a 19-point lead less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, and while Fr Mathews continued to battle away, they were unable to really threaten Glanmire’s hold on this tie.
Utility Trust St. Paul’s picked up their third win on the bounce after they accounted for University of Galway Mystics, running out 89-54 winners in Presentation Gym on Saturday afternoon.
The Kerry side made a blistering start to this contest, opening up a 19-point lead by the close of the first quarter. Gracen Kerr and Mathilde Diop combined for 41 points, the latter also carding 10 rebounds and five assists on the day.
Women’s Super League results
Saturday 15 February
Utility Trust St. Paul’s 89-54 University of Galway Mystics
Killester 70-52 Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers
The Address UCC Glanmire 67-56 Catalyst Fr. Mathews
Trinity Meteors 79-83 SETU Waterford Wildcats
Sunday 16 February
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 68-77 FloMAX Liffey Celtics
SETU Waterford Wildcats 94-91 Killester
