Womhoops Guru

Mel Greenberg covered college and professional women’s basketball for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he worked for 40 plus years. Greenberg pioneered national coverage of the game, including the original Top 25 women's college poll. His knowledge has earned him nicknames such as "The Guru" and "The Godfather," as well as induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Philly Summer League: Team Black Two-Peats

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA _ Team White seemed on the way to regain its Cinderella footing in the Department of Recreation's Women's NCAA Summer League Monday Night when it jumped out to a 14-4 lead over defending champion Team Black at Torresdale Boys Club in Northeast Philadelphia in the second game of the best-of-three finals.

White had become the surprise team of the playoffs as the seventh seed when it upset the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds in quarterfinal and semifinal action and then shaved a 12-point halftime deficit to a point against Black in the finals opener last Wednesday.

But Black quickly found its way back to the front to take a slim 27-25 halftime lead and then go on to dominate the rest of the way for a 66-42 triumph and a two-game sweep to the title.

La Salle senior Carlene Hightower had the hot hand Monday night for Black with a 36-point effort, including five three-pointers. She was also 7-for-7 on free throw attempts.

Rachel Laws, the former Chelthenham High star added eight points.

White, whose roster was dominated by players from Division II Philadelphia University, got 18 points from Rams sophomore Jessica Romano and eight points from eight points from Phila. U. junior Amanda Brennan.

As another successful summer in the league concludes, looking ahead to next season, it will be the final one for longtime commissioner David Kessler, who has announced he is ready to hand the operation over to a future successor.

Although, we listed the Black roster at the start of the playoffs, to say you all some computer clicking, the championship squad, coached by former Temple star Christena Hamilton, the other team members are former Temple stars Cynthia Jordan and Ari Moore; La Salle junior Margaret Elderton, St. Bonaventure senior Megan Ellis, Delaware sophomore Brittany Bell, Drexel senior Delise Johnson, former Massachusetts star Nicole Carter, and former Cheyney star Synguala Mosley.

Jordan, incidentally, is currently involved in preparations for the annual Dawn Staley Foundation Day in the Park, which will be held at its usual location at the Hank Gathers Recreation Center, Saturday, August 25 at 22nd & Diamond Sts. in North Philadelphia.

Temple coach Dawn Staley created the foundation in 1996, following her first Olympic gold medal, with the purpose to help inner city school children.

Several players who played in the summer league will continue competition in Europe, including former Drexel stars Michelle Maslowski and Catherine Scanlon, and recently graduated La Salle star Crista Ricketts.l

-- Mel

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