Philly Summer League Semifinals

(Updated to reflect location is in Northeast Philadelphia)

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA _ The Women's NCAA Summer League, under the direction of the Department of Recreation, has reached the semifinal stage of the annual playoffs with a doubleheader slated Monday Night (Aug. 6) at Torresdale Boys Club, Linden & Jackson Sts. in Northeast Philadelphia.

League rosters continue to maintain some of the best of present and past area stars of local colleges as well as local products who have gone to schools elsewhere.


The 6:45 p.m. game will feature Columbia Blue against the Cinderella-style White team, followed by an 8 p.m. contest between Royal and Black.


Recently departed La Salle senior Crista Ricketts and St. Joseph's incoming freshman Katie Hovatter paced Columbia Blue in Wednesday's quarterfinals at La Salle to a 65-56 win in the quarterfinals at La Salle over Team Purple, which was led by former Phila. U. star Samara Speakes and Bloomsburg junior Chanta'l Hardy.


The Columbia Blue squad is coached by former St. Joseph's star Tracy Harmon, whose teams have won titles in the past. Some other members include Hawks incoming freshman Sarah Acker and senior Timisha Gomez, along with La Salle junior Tara Lapetina and Explorers sophomore Michelle Szmyt, West Chester junior Dana Weems, incoming Princeton freshman Addie Micir, former Penn star Mikaelyn Austin, who is also the producer of the recently-released documentary of The Palestra; fromer Widener star Nicole Curry, and Drexel senior Nicole Hester and Dragons sophomore Nicole McCombs.


Team White (4-7), the seventh seed in the field, upset No. 2 Ash Grey, 60-55, to end their opponent's summer at 10-1. Incoming Phila. U. freshman Taylor Magnus paced the winners with 11 points. The roster is dominated by Phila. U players such as sophomore Nina Brascetta, sophomore Kate Brennan, senior Ashley Webster, sophomore Jessica Romano, and junior Amanda Brennan. Other members are Millersville sophomore Monica Newman, DeSales junior Leigh Ann Burke, Swarthmore incoming freshman Kathryn Stockbower, incoming St. Joseph's freshman Dominque Bryant, and the Drexel senior twin sister tandem of Narissa and Anora Suber.


In the other part of the bracket, recently graduated Penn star Joey Rhoads had 19 points, and recently graduated Georgetown senior Kate Carlin scored 17 points to pace Team Royal to a 63-56 triumph over Team Teal, which was led by Holy Family sophomore Christine McCollum's 16 points.


The Team Royal roster also includes Villanova junior Laura Kurz, the transfer from Duke who becomes eligible this fall; and recently graduated Wildcat senior Stacie Whitman. Rider's Danielle Costantino is also on the roster, as are recently graduate Columbua star Megan Griffith, Rider sophomore Stephanie Wisniewski, St. Joseph's sophomore Amy Gillespie, Cornell sophomore Virginia McMunigal, Penn's all-time scoring leader Diana Caramanico, and Widener sophomore Cathy Caramanico.


The final qualifer, Team Black was led by La Salle junior Margaret Elderton's 18 points and Explorers senior Carlene Hightower's 17 points in a 65-56 win over Team Orange, which was led by former Drexel stars Catherine Scanlon (17 points) and Michelle Maslowski (14 points).


The Team Black roster's other members are former Temple stars Cynthia Jordan and Ari Moore, who are coached by former Temple star Christena Hamilton. The rest of the group consists of Cecilia Ganer, whose affiliation was not listed; St. Bonaventure senior Megan Ellis, Delaware sophomore Brittany Bell, former Binghamton star Rachel Laws, former Cheyney star Synguala Mosley, and former Massachusetts star Nicole Carter.

The best-of-three championship will begin Wednesday night at 7:15 at Torresdale Boys Club, which will also be the site of Game 2 on Monday at 7:15 p.m., and, if necessary, Game 3, also at 7:15 p.m.

-- Mel