The Address UCC Glanmire recorded a 78-71 victory over defending Women's Super League champions, Killester in Clontarf on Saturday evening, while Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell also enjoyed success on the road as they surmounted the challenge of Trinity Meteors 84-78.
It's proving increasingly tight in the shake-up for play-off positions in Women’s Super League, with no less than four teams now tied in third place on 24 points following Saturday night’s action in the top tier.
Among them are The Address UCC Glanmire, who moved neck and neck with Killester after they beat the defending champions 78-71 in Clontarf.
Trinity Oliver put up a game-best 23 points, along with 11 rebounds, for the Cork side, while DelJanae Williams and Aine McKenna combined for a further 28 on the scoreboard to help keep the Dublin side at bay, Destiny Strother among their big hitters with 19 points.
Trinity Meteors missed out on the chance to pull clear of the pack, as they suffered an 84-78 reversal at the hands of Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, who have also subsequently move up into a share of third following Saturday's productive road trip.
In what was an enthralling tussle down the stretch, Brunell just about managed to remain out in front, Deaja Richardson playing a key role in their success, as she served up a haul of 31 points, ten of which came in the fourth.
Edel Thornton and Trinity Hudson weighed in with a further 28 to help counter the impressive performance of Trinity’s Emma Merriweather and Sarah Kenny who, between them, chalked up 33 points and 36 rebounds on the night.
Utility Trust St Paul's held firm in the face of a fourth-quarter comeback by Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers to dig out a 47-41 victory in St Mary’s Hall.
An eight-point run in the fourth quarter saw Portlaoise restore parity at 41 points apiece with just over a minute remaining, but St. Paul's demonstrated great resolve down the stretch with crucial buckets from Callie Cavanaugh and Gracen Kerr that saw them each total 14 on the day.
It was a second successful trip to Cork in the space of a week for second place, FloMAX Liffey Celtics as they beat Catalyst Fr Mathews 87-63 to improve their record Super League to 11 and 4.
A big second quarter in which they outgunned their hosts by 16 points went a long way to seeing the Leixlip side secure victory, Sorcha Tiernan and Allie Navarette serving up 40 points between them, while Áine O'Connor, Eboni Williams and Rachel Huijsdens combined for 20 rebounds.
Shannon Brady and Kyra White were the most prolific for Fr. Mathews, but their 33-point total could not help prevent the Cork side shipping a third loss of the season to Celtics and one that will only increase the pressure in their bid to clinch a play-off berth.
Despite a gritty performance by University of Galway Mystics that saw them put up their third highest game total of the season so far, they suffered a 93-69 defeat at the hands of league leaders leaders, SETU Waterford Wildcats in Mercy College.
The bottom side managed to take both the first and fourth quarters on Saturday evening, but dropped 32 points in between, as Chelsea Cain and Ashia McCalla inflicted heavy damage for the hosts that amounted to 55 points.
Galway did finish with four players in double digits, among them Shannon Cunningham on 19 and Kara McCleane on 16.
