LYIT Ladies finished off a great opening week for the college basketball programme following up the men’s win over UCD with a well-deserved win over IT Tallaght in An Dánlann.
LYIT 59 – 44 IT Tallaght
Final Year student Sophie Walsh got LYIT off to a quick start with a baseline layup before ‘Sport Changes Life’ Victory Scholar, Faith Welch, converted a tough three point play taking the contact and finishing on a left hand drive to open up a 5-0 lead for LYIT.
Aine Tunnah had a fabulous game for IT Tallaght and scored their opening basket with a deep jump shot but ‘Victory Scholar’, Makenzie Burud, put her stamp on the game with 6 first quarter points to see LYIT control the opening period which they won by 17 points to 7.
LYIT threatened to run away with the game in the second quarter as Walsh hit a baseline jump shot before veteran player, Janah Rosagaran, entered the game and finished a spectacular three point play to get the student crowd on their feet.
LYIT opened up a 15 point lead, however, more phenomenal shooting from Tunnah, playing for Tallaght, saw her notch 10 second quarter points as they cut the lead to just 6 points with a minute remaining before the half. LYIT showed tough resolve with some excellent defence by Laura Deeney and Aoife Nolan.
Their efforts lead, at one stage, to fast break basket by Faith Welch and a perfect three pointer by Aisling Nee to ensure a double digit lead for LYIT at the close of the half.
LYIT’s offence proved too much for Tallaght IT in the third quarter, Walsh was deadly on the fast break and Burud was aggressive in getting to the basket for scores and assists as the pair combined a total 10 points in the period. Tunnah, for IT Tallaght, also had 10 points again in the fourth period in a valiant effort to try and drag IT Tallaght back into the game.
But LYIT were in control and Welch used her experience to find key scores and control the team and bring the victory to LYITon a scoreline of 59-44.
Scores:Mak Burud (16), Faith Welch (16), Sophie Walsh (11), Aisling Nee (7), Jannah Rosagaran (7), Aoife Nolan 2, Laura Deeney, Ellen Monaghan, Meri Hernandez, Hannah Byrne, Jessica Okeke,
