NUIG Mystics will play in the MissQuote.ie Super League next season after they defeated Ulster University 76-57 in the MissQuote.ie Division 1 League final at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday, sealing promotion in the process.
The Galway side led by nine at the end of the half, 34-25. Ulster University were always chasing, they got within seven by the end of the third, 46-39, before NUIG pulled away in the fourth.
Hazel Finn, who top scored for NUIG Mystics with 15 points, said: “Since I started in the team in NUIG Mystics last year I knew well coming into this team we had something special in us and look at us now, we’ve won both the Cup and League and we’re absolutely delighted.”
NUIG Mystics’ scoring was evenly spread throughout their team, Sara Messler had 11, Courtney Cecere and Kara McCleane with 10 each. For Ulster University, Lexi Possett (15), Alex Mulligan (11) and Abigail Rafferty (11) led their offence.
In the InsuremyVan.ie Men’s Super League play-offs, next up for DBS Éanna is NUIG Maree in the last eight. The Galway club had a double header over the weekend. The first game didn’t go NUIG Maree’s way, as Tradehouse Central Ballincollig won 87-60. Andre Nation (27), Adrian O’Sullivan (21) and Milorad Sedlarevic (16) top scored for the Cork side. The NUIG Maree scoring was made up by Deondre Jackson (19), Luka Krajlic (15) and Jeryn Lucas (12).
Sunday’s fortunes were contrasting for NUIG Maree, as they beat Bright DCU Saints 117-68. Top scorers on the day for the Galway side were Jeryn Lucas (33), Deondre Jackson (18) and Lovre Tvrdic (16). Bright DCU Saints scorers were Kevin Lacey on 24, Donal Monaghan with 15, Graham Brannelly on 11.
NUIG Maree head coach Charlie Crowley was pleased with the reaction he got from his players. “Delighted with the response from the guys today. We didn’t play like we had planned to last night against Ballincollig, so the best thing for us was to get back out and go right the wrongs from last night. The most satisfying aspect was that the let-up never stopped, no matter who was on the floor. We went 12 deep and had 11 different scorers, I think all coaches would be happy with that. Credit to Saints also, the game was played in a very sporting manner, so hats off to Gareth (Winders) and all of the players he brought with him.”
It took overtime for Moycullen BC to get the better of Team 360 Financial Killorglin, eventually winning 79-78. Grant Olsson top scored for Moycullen with 25, Joshua Marvesley ended up on 15, while James Connaire hit nine. Top scorers for Team 360 Financial Killorglin were Allan Thomas (21), Simon Fransis (17) and Declan Wall (11).
Speaking after the dramatic win, Moycullen BC head coach John Cunningham stated: “Delighted to get the win. We got off to a super start and we were 16 or more up at one point. In fairness to Killorglin, they could have folded but they changed things up and dug in. When you haven’t many wins over the course of a season, and a team starts to edge back at you, the basket just seems to get smaller and that was the case for us. We got lots of good looks but didn’t knock them down.”
In the last Super League game, C&S Neptune beat Moycullen BC 88-51 to end the regular season on a high note.
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InsureMyVan.ie Super League
Saturday 12th March
Moycullen 79-78 Team 360 Financial Killorglin, NUIG Sports Centre
NUIG Maree 60-87 Tradehouse Central Ballincollig, NUIG Sports Centre
Sunday 13th March
NUIG Maree 117-68 Bright DCU Saints, NUIG Kingfisher
Moycullen 51-88 C&S Neptune, NUIG Kingfisher
MissQuote.ie Division 1 - League Final
Sunday 13th March
NUIG Mystics 76-57 Ulster University – National Basketball Arena
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Next Week’s Fixtures (Dates/Venues TBC)
InsureMyVan.ie Super League
Playoff Quarter-Finals (to be played weekend of 19th/20th March)
DBS Éanna v NUIG Maree
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors v UCD Marian
Tradehouse Central Ballincollig
Killester v C&S Neptune
