Domino’s Women’s National League Division One – Round 5
Uniquely Tralee Warriors 76
Hermitage Clinic Ongar Chasers 64
Uniquely Tralee Warriors made it two wins from two with a hard fought but fully deserved 76-64 win over Hermitage Clinic Ongar Chasers in Round 5 of the Domino’s Women’s National League Division One in Mercy Mounthawk on Saturday.
Amy Cotton once again proved her class with another double double of 31 points and 14 rebounds, her fifth in a row, along with an impressive 19 points from Holly O’Brien and 14 from Muireann Teahan to help Warriors to the win. Cotton, O’Brien and Teahan were all in range early to fire Warriors into an early 13-8 lead with Makenzie Helms, Carlota Gomez Alonso and Kellie Mae Murphy getting Ongar on the board and when Helms and Danika Stankovic added, the sides were level at 15 apiece. A trademark three from Priya O’Donovan was followed by scores from inside and out from Teahan and despite a double from Murphy the Warriors led 23-20 at quarter time.
A nine point volley from Cotton put Warriors up by 10 early in the second and despite baskets from Eva Iurascu and Shekinah Djoussa, a Holly O’Brien double kept the lead intact. The outstanding Alonso replied with an 8 point salvo to cut the gap but Cotton from distance and O’Donovan from mid range kept the Warriors lead intact. A quickfire 6 points from Cotton, O’Brien and Deirdre Geaney late on saw the Warriors go 46-37 up at half time.
Ongar started to chase down the Warriors lead early in the third and despite a hat trick from Cotton, Alonso lit up again with four in a row and with baskets from Helms and Murphy on the mark, the visitors had cut the gap to a single score. Cotton had the last word in the quarter bringing her personal tally to 25 to keep Warriors 56-52 ahead going into the final quarter.
Murphy halved the gap to a single score again early in the fourth and scores from Alonso, Stankovic and Helms kept the game in the balance but another double from O’Brien and with Teahan, O’Donovan and Cotton combining the Warriors were 67-60 up midway through the quarter. Scores from Stankovic and Djoussa breathed life into the Ongar challenge late on but in a show of great composure, the Warriors held their nerve and with Cotton again on the mark and O’Brien finishing with a 7 point flourish, the Warriors took the win in some style in the end.
Scorers
Uniquely Tralee Warriors: Amy Cotton 31, Holly O’Brien 19, Muireann Teahan 14
Hermitage Clinic Ongar Chasers: Carlota Gomez Alonso 23, Makenzie Helms 13, Kellie Mae Murphy 10
Having received a bye in Round One, Warriors will keep a close eye on proceedings in the National Cup meeting of Hermitage Clinic Ongar Chasers and Catalyst Fr. Mathews this weekend as they will travel to face the winners in early December. Their next National League game is away to Catalyst Fr. Mathews in the Fr. Mathews Arena in Cork on Saturday 21st November with tip off at 5.00pm.