Portlaoise Panthers 86 University of Galway Mystics 74
Women’s Super League
A huge 31-point haul by Lynn Tunnah helped drive Portlaoise Panthers on to victory over Women’s Super League bottom side, University of Galway Mystics on Sunday in St. Mary’s Hall.
Keith Conroy’s side, who were without Hailey Jordan, having parted ways with the American last week, hit the afterburners in the third quarter to open up an 18-point gap that the visitors, try as they might, were unable to close.
Having twice lost to Galway in last season’s campaign, Portlaoise were eager to exact revenge, and they quickly set about doing just that, stringing together a 13-point run that featured a big early three from Megan Dunne and four free throws from Tunnah.
Buckets from both sides of the arc by Shannon Cunnnigham helped keep Galway in touch, and, while Dunne, Tunnah, Shauna Dooley and Caoimhe Brophy landed more big scores for the hosts, there were just four points separating the two sides at the half-time break (37-33).
Yet Portlaoise set about tightening their hold on this game soon after restart, a combined 16 points from Tunnah and Alyssa Velles in the third quarter leaving their side 64-46 to the good as they headed into the closing 10 minutes.
Another big three from Tunnah enlarged the gap to 21, but, credit to the visitors, they fought on and strung together a nine-point run that included scores from Keiarra Rivers, Isabella Quinn and Lily Hynes.
Jasmine Burke got Panthers motoring again with a timely deuce that was quickly followed up by two big threes from Tunnah.
And while big buckets from Cunningham and Ann O’Brien reduced the gap to 10, there was just not enough time left on the clock for Galway to seriously threaten Panthers’ hold on this game.
It was just the result Conroy and his players were looking for ahead of next weekend’s start to the Paudie O’Connor National Cup, which sees them take on Trinity Meteors in St. Mary’s Hall.
TOP SCORERS – Portlaoise Panthers: Lynn Tunnah (31), Amy Dooley (13), Alyssa Velles (12), Megan Dunne (11); Top Scorers: Keiarra Rivers (22), Shannon Cunningham (20), Kara McCleane (13), Ava McCleane (6), Lily Hynes (6).
PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Shauna Dooley, Ciara Byrne, Megan Dunne, Lynn Tunnah, Jasmine Burke, Caoimhe Brophy, Amy Dooley, Alyssa Velles, Shannon Quigley.
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY MYSTICS: Lisa Burke, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Keiarra Rivers, Laura Morera, Ann O’Brien, Isabella Quinn, Lily Hynes, Ava McCleane, Kara McCleane, Molly Larkin, Shannon Cunningham.
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