Women’s Superleague Basketball
Utility Trust St Pauls 58
Portlaoise Panthers 61
Report: Enda Walshe
The Women’s Superleague is a battle ground so far this season with very little between the teams in and around the middle of the table.
A win for Utility Trust St Paul’s or Portlaoise Panthers in this tie would see either side peeping into the top of the table and a place in the top four. With the exception of the opening day defeat to Liffey Celtics, St Paul’s have been ultra-competitive, losing by single digits in two games and this reverse to Portlaoise Panthers could again be filed in the ‘nearly’ folder.
There were some positives – they defended very well, won the battle under the boards and, in general, held the Portlaoise threats under lock and key. 61 points is the lowest total they have conceded all season but the problems came at the other end of the floor.
58 won’t win you too many games as they struggled to get going offensively but amidst all, the attacking woes they fought hard and nearly pulled off a win. Allysa Velles and Lynn Tunnah came up with the big moments in the final quarter, however, to carry the points to the midlands.
Amy Dooley, who had a titanic battle with Megan Ormiston throughout, opened the Panthers account but Mathilde Diop, making her home debut, hit a three from downtown. Velles and Dooley combined again but that spurred the home side into a productive patch with Ormiston and Lorraine Scanlon pushing their side 11-6 clear.
Newly returned Jessica Fressle got the Panthers going again and with Dooley immaculate from the free throw line that helped the visitors into a 14-11 first quarter lead.
It was 21-21 at half time and the third quarter was the most productive for both sides with the quality of the exchanges improving and Leah McMahon lit the blue touch paper with a couple of late threes to cut the gap to 41-38.
Tunnah, who was 100 per cent from the free-throw line in this quarter, made a move for her side and despite points from Kerr and Diop St Pauls would soon find themselves seven in arrears, 48-41, with six minutes on the clock. A Tunnah three meant it was an eight-point game with the sands of time ebbing away but the hosts refused to bow.
An intensity in defence, an energetic home crowd and a Diop three allied to a basket on the break from Kerr reduced it to three. They then went inside to Ormiston and her efforts saw St Pauls in front with two minutes left.
The lead was short lived as Dooley poked the Portlaoise noses in front again. The remaining minutes of the game would then be decided on the free-throw line as St Paul’s would count the cost of missing four while the Panthers went four from four, thereby carrying the spoils on a 61-58 scoreline.
Megan Ormiston had 13, Gracen Kerr shot 12, Mathilde Diop netted 11 as did Lorraine Scanlon. Leah McMahon had six while Simeone O’Shea had three and Rheanne O’Shea two.
For the Panthers Alyssa Velles had 18, Jessica Fressle 14, the same total as Lynn Tunnah, with Amy Dooley on 10.
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