Mel Stone on the attack for the Maxol WIT Wildcats at home to DCU Mercy on Saturday night at the Mercy Gym. Photo: Noel Browne.

BAKSKETBALL IRELAND WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

When Maxol WIT Wildcats led by 17 points with as many minutes remaining, another home league win looked very much on the cards but amazingly the Wildcats simply disintegrated and suffered a painful loss to reigning league champions DCU at the Mercy Gym on Saturday night.
When the game tipped off, it was all Wildcats and they were scoring pretty much at will and looking much the better team. Gradually DCU got into the game mainly through the excellent Sarah Fairbanks who finished as top scorer on 27 points. But inspite of her qualities, Wildcats went to the break with a comfortable 15 point cushion with Stephanie O’Shea and Cathy Kavanagh their main scorers. Soon a 15 point advantage became 17 and Wildcats supporters must have felt this one was in the bag. A couple of more baskets and there was no way back for DCU but with just over seven minutes to the end of the third quarter the wheels fell off for the Wildcats’ wagon. DCU stood solid in defence and could hardly miss offensively while Wildcats missed so many good opportunities it was difficult to watch. Now leading by just two points with the final quarter to play, Wildcats were falling apart, and in spite of a three pointer from Sinead Deegan and a couple of baskets from the battling Britteny Dunbar it simply wasn’t enough as DCU finished in style to take the honours 49-57.
Wildcats now go into the Christmas break in a confused state of mind wondering what went wrong. One thing for sure is they better solve the problem quick if they are to be part of the Super League play-offs which will be played on their own door step in the new WIT Arena next March.
WIT WILDCATS: Sinead Deegan, Cathy Kavanagh, Stephanie O’Shea, DaLacy Anderson, Brittney Dunbar, Helena Rohan, Aoife Brett, Mel Stone.