Sparkling UL tame Waterford’s Wildcats
In bold print that result will not tell the full story of how the Waterford side played their hearts out just to try to stay in the game against a team that produced everything one could hope for in a basketball game.
UL were a class apart and would have been even more convincing
winners were it not for that dismal third quarter when they managed to add just five points to their total with six from Wildcats whose inability to exploit the open space afforded them on the wings due more to a tight
inside defence than any lack of commitment on their part. It was a tense opening quarter with Michelle Aspell setting the pace for UL to go 12-0 clear in the opening five minutes with Bethany Schott and Dearbhla Breen providing the driving force.
Wildcats did not have their first
basket until Lisa Palmer finally landed one in the sixth minute, followed by another quick score from Gráinne Dwyer.
But the 19-7 gap between the sides at the end of the first quarter was
ominous and widened at a terrific rate when UL got down to business in the second with MVP Gillian Aherne now moving into top gear and
stepping up for a seven point addition that helped them to a 47-26 lead at half time.
It was blatantly obvious that it was just a matter of playing out the game and this was recalled by the UL Coach, Tony Hehir, when he reflected on a dismal third quarter in which the sides yielded only 11 points between them.
“The girls worked so hard and it was a great team performance all round but it was a difficult third quarter to play because were up so many points,” he said.
Now he was again calling home the heavy artillery even with Bethany Schott, Jillian Aherne and Michelle Aspell watching from the bench, Wildcats who had suffered a major blow when Orla Dempsey was fouled out, could make no little or no headway.
Statistically, UL not only heavily outscored Wildcats but they out-
rebounded them 56-33 as the gap
between the all-conquering champions and the remainder of the teams in the country widened some more.
“It was a great team performance,” Coach Hehir said. “In fairness to
Waterford they were missing an outstanding player in Nicole Conway who could have made a big difference to them today.”
“We had a shaky third quarter but I always knew we would come good in the fourth. But today we were exceptionally good and we dominated the game but it is not always like that. Some days it has been a lot closer.”
Top scorers for UL: Michelle Aspell 18, Dearbhla Breen 14, Jillian Aherne (MVP) 13.
Top scorers for B&L Wildcats: Grainne Dwyer 11, Miriam Liston 10, Lisa Palmer 9.
