Ulster University edged NUIG Mystics 58-56 in a thrilling MissQuote.ie division one League Cup final at the National Basketball Arena.
MVP Lexi Posset scored a game-high 21 points to propel her side to victory, denying the Galway side the treble this season.
In a repeat of the MissQuote.ie division one league final, NUIG Mystics edged the opening quarter, leading 13-8 at the end of it.
The first three-pointer of the game was landed by Posset for Ulster University just before the midway point of the second quarter, and that reduced the deficit to 21-16.
That seemed to ignite Patrick O’Neill’s side and another five points from Posset helped bring the game level at 23-23, with a little more than two minutes to go in the second quarter.
However NUIG Mystics finished the quarter stronger and were 30-25 ahead at half-time. When Sara Messler got NUIG Mystics first three-pointer four minutes into the third to take a 34-28 lead, the game was definitely going the Galway team's way. However Alexandra Mulligan responded immediately with one of her own for Ulster University.
Posset continued to pull the strings for Ulster University - her layup with 90 seconds left in the third brought the game level once more, at 37-37 apiece. And another Posset layup put Ulster University in front for the first time, she also drew a foul and added the extra point to lead 41-40 going into the final quarter.
In a tense and exciting fourth quarter, the lead changed multiple times to set up a thrilling conclusion to this contest.
Ulster University got their noses in front, opening up a seven-point advantage following Alex Mulligan’s three with 4 minutes 37 seconds remaining. That made it 53-46, but NUIG Mystics responded with a five-point run.
Captain Aoife Callaghan then helped Ulster University re-establish a seven point lead, 58-51, thanks to her three-point jump shot with a little over a minute and half to go.
However NUIG Mystics made vital inroads as they chased the game. Sara Messler’s three-pointer and a couple of Hazel Finn free throws made it a two-point contest.
With 7.5 seconds to go Kara McCleane had a three-point attempt for NUIG Mystics, but it failed to land and Ulster University emerged 58-56 victors.
Top three scorers: NUIG Mystics - Kara McCleane (13 ), Hazel Finn (12 ), Sara Messler (11 ); Ulster University - Lexi Posset (21 ), Aoife Callaghan (12 ), Abigail Rafferty (11 )
NUIG Mystics: Hazel Finn, Kara McCleane, Laura Lopez Morera, Alison Blaney, Maedhbh O’Brien, Ava McCleane, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Courtney Cecere, Aoife Ryan, Sara Messler. Head coach: Paul O’Brien
Ulster University: Lexi Posset, Abigail Rafferty, Naoishe Burns, Ciara Cooke, Ciara White, Aoife Callaghan (C ), Lucia Saez, Eimile Rogers-Duffy, Alexandra Mulligan, Rachel Callery. Head coach: Patrick O’Neill
