Cork Basketball: UCC Glanmire edge out Trinity Meteors in a thriller
UCC Glanmire's Claire O'Sullivan tries to get away from Trinity Meteors' Kylie Horstmeyer during their Women's Super League clash at the Mardyke Arena. Picture: David Keane.
UCC Glanmire beat Trinity Meteors in a thrilling Domino’s Women’s Super League game at the Mardyke Arena yesterday afternoon.
Meteors came in with only one loss and the best defensive stats, while Glanmire had a record 3-3, so this game was very important for both sides before they play in the National Cup next weekend.
Glanmire led 53-33 at the half with great contributions by their American pairing Jewel Watkins (19 points) and Viane Cumber (16). Superb work on the defensive side of the floor by the entire team was the reason they held a 20-point lead.
Meteors made a superb comeback in the second half, led by their Irish international Hazel Finn with some wonderful shooting. However, the home team had laid the foundation in the opening half.
Both sides exchanged baskets early on with Meteors' American Kylie Horstmeyer very effective inside the paint. However, Glanmire’s Americans Jewel Watkins and Viane Cumber were equally efficient outside the arc and led 15-6 after four minutes of the opening period.
It was 18-18 with a basket from Sarah Kenny and then a drive to the hoop and bonus by Hazel Finn to finish the first period with nothing between the sides.
Jewel added two baskets at the start of the second quarter to give Glanmire a 28-24 lead. And when Cumber nailed two monstrous efforts beyond the arc, they pushed that out to 34-26 three minutes into the quarter.
Two more baskets by Cumber and an inside bucket by Claire O’Sullivan made it 42-29, forcing Meteors into a time-out midway through the period.
Defensively Glanmire were excellent in the final minutes of the period while O’Sullivan and Jewel nailed efforts beyond the arc and an Annaliese Murphy bucket saw them lead 53-33 at the half.
The visitors made a great start to the third quarter and reduced the deficit with baskets from Kenny and Ava Learn. A basket and a bonus by Jewel pushed had the hosts ahead 56-40 midway through the period though.
Although the home side missed easy baskets, they never panicked and kept their composure and made a strong finish to lead 67-51 to enter the final quarter.
Both sides exchanged baskets at the start of the last period. However, when Horstmeyer got an offensive rebound and a put-back Meteors reduced the deficit to 71-59. Coming down the stretch, Finn nailed some excellent efforts beyond the arc for Meteors but the home side converted their foul shots to seal a vital victory.
Jewel Watkins 27, Viane Cumber 21, Claire O’Sullivan 15.
Hazel Finn 28, Kylie Horstmeyer 20, Ava Learn 13.
Aine McKenna, Jessica O’Shea, Claire O’Sullivan, Annaliese Murphy, Mia Furlong, Jewel Watkins, Miriam Loughrey, Lucy Walsh, Emer Dunne, Faye McDonnell, Amy Dooley, Viane Cumber.
Hazel Finn, Caoimhe Gilligan, Catherine Connaire, Sarah Kenny, Helena Keane, Ciara Mulligan, Aisling Moran, Francisha Treiliha, Eva Learn, Kylie Horstmeyer, Riordhna McGrath.
Emer Buckley (Kerry), Jacek Halysko (Portaoise).
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