Edel Thornton at brilliant best to get Brunell back on track against Portlaoise Panthers
Edel Thornton, Brunell, gets her pass away to Brailyn Jarrell Joseph, under pressure from Holli Dunne and Ciara Byrne, Portlaoise Panthers, at the Gurranabraher Credit Union Arena. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A 31-point contribution from captain Edel Thornton helped Gurranbraher Credit Union Brunell defeat Portlaoise Panthers in the Domino’s Women’s Super League at the GCU Arena on Saturday.
Brunell had only one American as Maddie Cluse was released but they showed what their club is all about with a display of sheer guts and resilience.
The Midlanders got off to a great start with Christiana Boiko and Jessica Fressle nailing consecutive baskets. Brunell were battling hard to stay within striking distance and in a low-scoring opening six minutes, trailed 8-6.
The scoring improved but with both sides playing stringent defence, the sides were tied at 18 points each entering the final minute following a stunning Lynn Tunnah three-pointer.
In the final possession, a superb Thornton assist found American Brailyn Joseph, who drained a floater that ensured the Leesiders commanded a 20-18 lead entering the second quarter.
On the restart, three unanswered Brunell baskets increased their lead to eight points as the Panthers looked a side on the ropes.
The problem for Brunell was their inability to make their clear looks count and it was evident the Panthers were going to stay the distance.
Midway through the quarter, Tunnah produced another wonderful move and her clinical finish reduced the deficit to four points.
Thornton continued to drive her side and with Katie Walshe and Joseph doing well, had a 10-point lead three minutes from the break. Resilient Panthers continued to battle and with Tunnah showing her class outside and inside the paint and the deficit was reduced to six.
A Joseph free throw with eight seconds remaining to the interval ensured Brunell had a seven-point lead at the break: 43-36.
Poor defending was posing Brunell problems with Tunnah and Fressle exposing them and in the space of two minutes Portlaoise Panthers had edged into a 44-43 lead following four unanswered baskets.
Brunell looked in trouble but when you have a player like Thornton, anything is possible as she took this game by the scruff of the neck in this crucial period.
The sides were level at 49 points in the 27th minute when Velles picked up an unsportsmanlike foul on the Brunell captain and she duly nailed the resultant free throws. In the closing minutes of this quarter, Brunell played champagne basketball and surged into a 10-point lead, 59-49.
That’s as good as it got for the Panthers as Brunell’s class shone brightest coming down the stretch to record a crucial win that hopefully will get their season back on track.
E Thornton 31, K Walshe 15, B Joseph 14.
L Tunnah 18, C Boiko 15, J Fressle 15.
K Sexton, C Downey, A Walshe, M O’Leary, E Thornton, I McSweeney, F Kyamagro, K Walshe, A Lyons, B Joseph, R Bowdren.
H Dunne, S Dooley, C Byrne, M Dunne, L Tunnah, J Burke, A Byrne, E Kennington, C Boiko, J Fressle, S Fleming, A Velles.
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