Basketball (Ladies)

About

Welcome to Ladies Basketball here at NUIG.

This year the Club will be split into 4 sections:

• Varsity
• Freshers'
• Recreational
• National League

Recreational basketball on Thursday at 6-8pm is open for players of all standards..it's just to keep fit and have fun!!

We'd also like to encourage members to come out and support the National League and Varsity Team in their home games, details of which will be sent out via email.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions :)

Check out our facebook page for extra details!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NUIG-Basketball-Club/148900154092

History

Ireland’s oldest basketball competition, the Intervarsities was first played in 1952. Four teams participated in that competition UCD, UCG, RCSI and TCD. The first winners of the trophy were UCG. UCG however didn't win a second title until 1987. The ladies tournament was first competed for in 1966, the founding members were UCD, UCG, UCC, and TCD, again by the early 1970's this tournament had extended to eight teams. The ladies tournament was similar to the men's thereafter. The Dean of Women's Studies in UCD donated the ladies trophy, as she had been senior treasurer of the ladies club for a considerable number of years. This trophy was last presented to UUJ in 1997 and seems to have been lost thereafter.

The Ladies plate is named after Harry Boland, who was a founder member of the Irish basketball Association and participated in the 1948 Olympics being the first and only time that Ireland have had a basketball team in the Olympics.

Many famous players both Men & Women have participated in the intervarsity competition over the years, some have gone on to represent Ireland, and many have participated in the top leagues both here and abroad. Many students from abroad have participated in the competition from all parts of the world, including USA, Canada, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran to name a few.

The Universiy of Ulster hold a unique record in the Intervarsities that on one occasion when they were unable to field a Ladies team but had one excepional female player. UUJ sought permission of the committee that she be allowed to play with the Men's team. She did so and was on the starting five for a three of their pool games.

Achievements

The college Varsity team return to the “A” division with a bang this season. With a mixture of old and new players the team is now joined by American guard Gretchen Gaskin from Chicago, Illinois. The team train alongside the NUIG Mystics National League team which has helped to develop the girls into becoming more physical and intelligent on the court. The tough practices are exactly what the college team needs in order to maintain their skill and focus for both varsity league and cup, especially now that they are competing at a higher college level. NUIG have played a total of 8 league games and are happily perched at the top of the table. With huge wins on the road against top team such as UL and UCC by over twenty points in each game, the team are continuously improving with each game. NUIG are guaranteed a spot in the Varsity league semi-finals and will face either NUI Maynooth or last year’s cup “A” victors DCU. Either way the team are confident as ever and are hoping to book themselves a place in the league finals on March 14^th in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.

The NUIG Varsity team will close their season with the Intervarsity Cup weekend, which is set for the 12^th-14^th of April and will be hosted by the UCC Basketball Club, for what is guaranteed to be a weekend of superb basketball of the highest standard. NUIG have high hopes of returning from the weekend with yet another All-Ireland Trophy to add to the list.

NUIG Mystics began the New Year sitting in third place in the National League table and having booked themselves a spot in the National Cup semi-finals against Dublin side Oblate Dynamos. The Galway team had beaten Oblate twice in the league; a huge achievement against a team who had competed in the Superleague the previous season. Mystics played with heart and determination but, it was the more experienced Oblate side that came out on top with a five point victory after a gruelling game.

The Tribeswomen appeared almost unfazed by their semi-final defeat, showing no loss of confidence going into their opening league game of the New Year, beating a tough Portlaoise team. This whopping twenty six point win pushed the NUIG Mystics side up to second place on the table. Next the girls faced a strong Castleisland team, however the Kerry girls could not keep up with the pace of NUIG. The first quarter saw NUIG off to a flying start, while McCarthy's were finding it hard to hit the target. The fourth quarter started with both sides denying each other for scores, Galway then stepped up a gear and went on a scoring spree. Time was running out for the Castleisland Ladies and as much as they fought to claw it back it was too late. The game ended on a score line of 65-51 in favour of the Mystics. NUIG Mystics travelled to UL the following week in search of a massive win to keep them on track for their goal of finishing top of the league table. The Galway side put the pressure on from the start limiting UL’s options on the floor. A combination of good pressure defence and smooth offensive plays lead to a remarkable display of basketball, securing the team’s third consecutive win of the New Year.

Next on the agenda for the NUIG Mystics are Cup finalists Tralee Imperials, a win against the Kerry Side will secure the Mystics with a home draw for the League semi-finals.

Intervarsities

Intervarsities will be held in UCC from the 5th to the 7th of April 2013.

After winning the 'B' varsities last year, our Ladies team have been promoted to the 'A' League and will be competeing at a higher standard this season.