Fr Matthews 83 Portlaoise Panthers 73
Women’s Basketball Super League Round 3
Despite leading by five points early in the third quarter, Portlaoise Panthers were overtaken by Fr Mathews and consequently shipped their second defeat of the new Women’s Super League season in Fr Mathews Arena on Saturday evening.
Looking to bounce back from their 23-point reversal at the hands of the unbeaten Liffey Celtics the week before, Keith Conroy’s side certainly put it up to their Cork rivals in what was their first game on the road this season, but they, crucially, lost some ground in the second half that they were unable to recover.
The 24-point combination of Kyra White and Shannon Brady during that period went a long way to seeing Fr Mathew’s hold out against a dogged Portlaoise outfit that continued to scrap right to the final buzzer.
Lynn Tunnah turned in a big display for the visitors with 21 points and five rebounds that was second only to White, who carded a game-high 23 points.
Fr Mathews finished with four players in double figures, Brady putting up a total of 14, while Grainne and Niamh Dwyer combined for a further 23.
While Tunnah spearheaded Panthers’ challenge, Amy Dooley and co-captain, Alyssa Velles also proved a real handful for the Fr Mathews defence, the two chalking up 33 points between them.
It was Portlaoise who led by the narrowest of margins (26-25) after the opening quarter, with the game continuing to swing back and forth throughout the second.
After Amy Murphy nudged the hosts back in front, Portlaoise responded with buckets from Tunnah, Velles and Ciara Byrne to open up a six-point advantage, only to see their hosts against battle back to lead by one (46-45) at the half-time recess.
Again, Portlaoise regained the initiative as Tunnah drained two big attempts from beyond the arc to help propel the visitors five ahead in the third.
But that was as close as they would go to landing a second win, as Mathews strung together a nine-point run that put them back in the driving seat, with White’s 12-point contribution in the fourth helping ensure they remained there.
SCORERS – Portlaoise Panthers: Lynn Tunnah (21), Amy Dooley (17), Alyssa Velles (16), Ciara Byrne (9) Fr Matthews: Kyra White (23), Shannon Brady (14), Grainne Dwyer (13), Niamh Dwyer (10)
PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Shauna Dooley, Hailey Jordan, Ciara Byrne, Megan Dunne, Lynn Tunnah, Jasmine Burke, Amy Dooley, Alyssa Velles.
FR MATHEWS: Danielle O’Riordan, Karin Skapin, Amy Murphy, Grainne Dwyer, Aisling McCann, Amy Corkery, Shannon Brady, Kyra White, Niamh Dwyer.
