DCU Mercy advanced to the semi-final of the ladies Hula Hoops National Basketball Cup with a comprehensive victory over UCC Glanmire over the weekend, grabbing a 77-40 point victory in second consecutive win over the Cork side.
The reigning champions stormed out of the blocks and put themselves hugely in control in the first quarter, with Sarah Woods, Samantha Hyslip and Aine McDonnell all on form as DCU established a domineering 27-6 lead.
Glanmire did hit back slightly, pulling DCU back by a couple of points to 43-24 by halftime after a much improved second quarter, but the Cork side could only hit four points in the third quarter as DCU upped their game and put the contest to bed early.
Following the game, DCU coach Mark Ingle said “in the cup it’s just about getting through, whether it’s by one point or ten points, but I think in the first quarter we played exceptional basketball and really moved the ball well.
“Glanmire, I think they were chasing the game after that. They are a young team but I think we’re young enough as well. We’re young enough with a lot of experience, they have a lot of basketball in them.
“Our defence was good as well,” the coach added. “I think under ten points for that first quarter. They’re the sort of team that come back at you with runs. We expected, and prepared like we’d lost by 20 last week. We had a good win over them last week, and a good win this week. We’re looking forward to the challenge of Father Matthews next week [in the league] and Liffey in the semi finals.”
As Ingle said, DCU will face Courtyard Liffey Celtics in the semifinal in January, after their rivals overcame Maxol WIT Wildcards 68-56 in a far tighter contest, to continue a promising unbeaten early season.
The pair will be joined in the last four by an all Cork other half of the draw, in which Singleton SuperValu Brunell and Fr Mathews face off in the New Year.
In the men’s Super League, C & S Neptune made it four wins on the bounce, winning away to Griffith College Swords Thunder 84-92.
Lehmon Colbert, Darragh O’Sullivan and Cian Heaphy combined for 71 of the total 92 points scored on the evening.
Templeogue had the better of Moycullen, DCU Saints pipped Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin in a nail-biter in Dublin, while Pyrobel Killester got the better of UCC Demons at the IWA in Clontarf.
