Basketball: DCU Mercy take control of Women’s Premier League

DCU Mercy claimed an outright lead at the top of the Basketball Ireland Women's Premier League with an 89-68 win over UL Huskies. Huskies eked out an eight point advantage in the early quarters before Mercy tightened up on defence and Aoife McDermott finished the game with 27 points.

“All the wins to date won’t count for much if we can’t keep the run going against Team Montenotte Hotel next week,” said McDermott. “They’re going to be out for blood after a shock loss. The league itself is so close now.”

Team Montenotte Hotel's defeat was to Pyrobel Killester amid a 'Pink Weekend' for Breast Cancer Ireland at the National Basketball Arena. "The style we play, we're going to put up points," said Killester Head Coach Karl Kilbride after a deserved 82-73 win. "They were without Grainne Dwyer, but we were missing three really key players of our own."

Singleton SuperValu Brunell's defeat to Courtyard Liffey Celtics was compounded by the loss of Kaylee Fitzpatrick to a serious looking leg injury. The 6'4'' Canadian could only watch as Celtics moved above their playoff rivals in the table. Meteors maintained their solid start to the season with a 73-56 defeat of Portlaoise Panthers.

In the Men's Premier League, the Dublin Derby went to overtime as Pyrobel Killester took an 84-75 win at UCD Marian. The sides were level at 70-70 after forty minutes, but Killester powered through and Jermaine Turner finished the game with 37 points.

UL Eagles picked up their second away win of the campaign at the expense of Eanna while GCD Swords Thunder beat DCU Saints.

C&S UCC Demons’ Fiba Europe Cup contingent showed no signs of tiredness from the midweek trip to Denmark as the champions beat SSE Airtricity Moycullen by 87-69 at the Mardyke Arena.