Williamson insists there is more to come from Ireland after narrow loss to Iceland
Ireland’s Katie Williamson poses for a photo with some fans after the game Photo: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
Katie Williamson insists there is more to come from her and her Ireland senior international team mates after they were undone by a late rally from Iceland in Wednesday night’s FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifier Group A opener in the National Basketball Arena.
Playing their first game under new head coach, Thomas Garlepp, Ireland went toe-to-toe with their opponents, who sit 13 places above them at 66th in the FIBA World rankings, with the two sides deadlocked at 73 points apiece as the game headed into the closing two minutes.
But it was Iceland who produced the decisive run, hitting eight points without reply to ensure they moved to the top of the Group A table alongside Switzerland, whom Ireland face in Fribourg next Tuesday after they firstly travel to Baku to take on Azerbaijan this coming Saturday.
And Liffey Celtics forward, Williamson believes they can build on this performance and get off the mark before the week is out, telling The Kildare Nationalist, “I definitely believe we have a lot more in the tank.
“I know we can learn a lot from this game and hopefully, moving forward, we can take those moments, work on them and come out on the other side of it.
“We're a strong team, 1 through to 13. We all have a part to play and we all went out there and gave it our all, which is really great.
“Sadly it wasn't our night, but going forward, I know we're definitely going to learn a lot and just rise above this. We just don't give up, we have that next-play mentality, we just keep digging deep and keep doing what we can do” she said.
Sarah Hickey led the charge for Ireland on Wednesday with a superb double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Ella O’Donnell and Enya Maguire combined for a further 27, as Ireland really put it up to Iceland, for whom Rebekka Steingrimsdottir netted 18, and Sara Run Hinriksdottir and Berglind Hlynsdottir hit 14 apiece.
It was Iceland who drew first blood in this contest, Steingrimsdottir and Isabella Sigurdardottir getting in for two early layups before O’Donnell opened Ireland’s account almost a minute in.
Buckets from Thoranna Hodge-Carr and Hinriksdottir kept the visitors in front, but Ireland remained hot on their heels thanks to scores from O’Donnell, Hickey and captain, Edel Thornton before a two-point jump shot by former Liffey Celtics player, Hazel Finn nudged the hosts in front for the first time at 13-12 with just over six minutes played.
That narrow lead, however, did not last long, as converted free throws from Hlynsdottir and a treble from Dilja Larusdottir helped Iceland close out the first quarter with a 21-17 lead.
Yet Ireland served up a great start to the second period with a nine-point run that featured sublime efforts from off the three-point line by O’Donnell and Hickey, propelling Garlepp’s side in front by five.
Iceland did regain their poise and fought back through uncontested shots from Steingrimsdottir, a layup from Hodge-Carr and a three-point jump shot from Hlynsdottir, but it was the homeside who led 42-38 at the half-time break after Maguire struck from beyond the arc while Caitlin Gloeckner, Aoibheann Donnelly, Thornton and Hickey punished in the paint.
And it was a bright start to the third period by Ireland as an Isabella Sigurdardottir bucket for the visitors was answered with interest when O’Donnell got in for a deuce and Maguire drained a treble to enlarge the gap to seven.
But Iceland were certainly not going away and worked their way back on to level terms at 49 points apiece before they hit nine unanswered points that included strikes from both sides of the arc by Steingrimsdottir.
The visitors were heading towards the end of the third with a nine-point cushion, but Ireland ended that period with a crucial ‘and one’ by Hickey before opening the fourth in the same manner through Finn and then levelling the tie at 63-63 when Hickey drained three shots from the free-throw line.
It set the stage for a nailbiting finish that saw the sides deadlocked at 73 points apiece when Maguire carded a three-point jump shot with 2:31 left on the clock.
But that was to prove Ireland’s final bucket of the night, Iceland pulling clear as Kristrun Olafsdottir sent her effort from downtown through the string and Hinriksdottir followed her deuce with a further two from the line to effectively seal victory for the visitors.
Aoibheann Donnelly, Hazel Finn, Ella O’Donnell, Michelle Clarke, Lucy Coogan, Sarah Hickey, Katie Williamson, Enya Maguire, Emer Dunne, Edel Thornton, Maura Fitzpatrick, Caitlin Gloeckner.
Top Scorers: Sarah Hickey (25), Ella O’Donnell (15), Enya Maguire (12).
Isabella Sigurdardottir, Helena Rafnsdottir, Thoranna Hodge-Carr, Dilja Larusdottir, Emma Theodoersson, Thelma Dis Agustsdottir, Anna Svansdottir, Sara Run Hinriksdottir, Asta Julia Grimsdottir, Rebekka Steingrimsdottir, Berglind Hlynsdottir, Kristrun Olafsdottir.
Top Scorers: Rebekka Steingrimsdottir (18), Sara Run Hinriksdottir (14), Berglind Hlynsdottir (14).
