Lady Gators too good for Gliders
Wednesday March 10 2010
IN A high octane high scoring Division 2 game the Wicklow Lady Gators continued their home unbeaten run.
Jumping to an early lead the Gators never looked back as they went inside to Kristine Delahunt who scored with some power moves and then when Kildare came to grips with that the outside shooting of Shauna Malone and Rachel Kavanagh enabled the gators to lead 12 -5 after the first quarter.
The second Quarter saw the Gators defence really take over as Niamh McGettigan, Julie Reid, Tara Lenihan, Rachel Kavanagh and Kristine Delahunt dominated on the boards out rebounding the Kildare girls.
This coupled with the pressing defence of Laura Hodginkson, Alex Copeland, Anna Ruiz and Niamh Whelan gave the Kildare girls no easy shots forcing them into several turnovers.
Offensively the Gators scored freely through Laura Hodginkson, Julie Reid, and Shauna Malone as the fast breaking Gators took the ball to the hoop, driving it strongly at the Kildare defence. Soon the Gators were ahead 22-8, but kept the pressure as Spanish import Anna Ruiz drove the lane and hit two more baskets.
Two final baskets from Tara Lenihan finished off the quarter and the Gators led 31-10 at the half time. Taking their foot off the pressure the gators allowed Kildare back into the game in the third quarter and the lead was reduced to 35 â?“ 19.
A time out and change of defensive tactics saw the game change again as Kristine Delahunt, Julie Reid and Rachel Kavanagh all scored with inside moves, and pulling down offensive rebounds. Kildare kept the quarter close as the Gators did not increase their lead but kept the lead to 45-23 as they entered the last quarter. Great hussle and strong rebounding were the order of the day for the last quarter as the Kildare side tried to pull themselves back into the game and again made a run to reduce the lead to 47 -36.
But yet again the offensive power of the Gators took over as Shauna Malone hit a three pointer, Laura Hodginkson a slashing drive and Julie Reid a fifteen foot shot and again the lead was restored.
Kirsitine Delahunt finished off the scoring for the Gators and gave them a comfortable win and second place in the table as they prepare for a table topping clash with Swords on Friday night next.
