University of Galway Mystics secured a welcome 64–59 victory over Dublin Raiders in a tightly contested Domino’s Women’s Division One clash in Bray last Saturday.
It was a fast-paced game which saw Mystics establish an early advantage and rely on strong defending in the closing stages to seal the win.
The game was intense from the start and Mystics took the lead early on, leading 18-12 by the end of the first quarter. They continued to build momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead to 34-24 by halftime, with Kara McCleane scoring a total of 14 points in the first half.
Raiders fought back in the third quarter, led by Mikayla Woods, who scored eight points, narrowing the gap to 43-37.
In a very close fourth quarter, Raiders pushed hard but Mystics held on with some excellent defending and two free throws scored by Georgia Munnelly in the closing seconds to secure the 64-59 victory.
McCleane delivered an outstanding performance for Mystics, finishing with a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Demetra Yennari scored 10 points. Mikayla Woods was the top scorer for Raiders, with her own double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Reflecting on the result, Head Coach Paul Langan said that it was a “hard-fought win on the road”.
“I am immensely proud of the grit and determination the team showed to maintain their lead,” he added.
University of Galway Mystics will look to carry this momentum into their next Domino’s Women’s Division One fixture, away to Limerick Celtics on January 24 at 7pm in Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick.
