WNBA Report: Meesseman and Prince Fuel Respective Wins for Washington and Chicago

(The Guru reported out of New York and apologizes for the posting delay due to some technological problems.)

By Megan Nipe and Mel Greenberg

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Mystics continued their recent domination of the Connecticut Sun Friday night as Emma Meesseman had a career night to ruin the homecoming of recent Maryland graduate Alyssa Thomas with a 69-63 victory.

The native of Harrisburg was held to six points but did grab eight rebounds for the Sun.

Meanwhile, up in New York Friday night the homecoming of Epiphanny Prince was more successful as the former Rutgers star and native of the area had 30 points in the Chicago Sky's 73-69 victory over the Liberty in Madison Square Garden.

Back in Washington, Meesseman, a native of Belgium and second year pro with the Mystics (7-9), had a stellar night at the Verizon Center with 22 points and 13 rebounds, scoring-wise well above her 8.1 average.

After the game, Mystics head coach Mike Thibault had nothing but praise for Meesseman, saying, “Emma was sensational tonight. We needed her to be aggressive and she was.”

When asked about the big game for her and her team, Meesseman looked at it in the long-term saying, “I hope it’s the start of a big winning streak.”

That's something Connecticut had going into the game having won six straight until the Mystics short-circuited the run to run their total in the series with the Sun to four wins in the last five meetings dating back to last season.

Mystics rookie Bria Hartley had another solid outing with 12 points and three assists for the former University of Connecticut all-American.

Veteran Katie Douglas had 18 points and three rebounds for the Sun (8-7), which saw a six-game win streak get halted.

Chiney Ogwumike, the number one overall pick in the WNBA draft in April out of Stanford, had 10 points and five rebounds.

Earlier in the day Thomas, the fourth overall pick in April's draft and a native of Harrisburg, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference female athlete of the year.

The Mystics got off to a hot start, scoring eight points off of a few no look passes, causing a timeout within two minutes by the Sun.

However, the pause didn’t seem to help as Washington jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead.

The first quarter seemed to be slightly slower due to the four team fouls by the Sun in the first six minutes.

The slower pace seemed to help Connecticut rally, and with just under two minutes to go in the first quarter, the Sun had closed the gap to make it 15-12.

A 3-point jumper by the Sun’s Douglas, tied the game at 15.

It seemed as though the visitors were going to go up by two at the end of the quarter, but a last second swooshed 3-pointer by Ivory Latta brought the crowd to its feet and gave the Mystics a one point lead 18-17 as the period ended.

A turn-around bucket by Mystics rookie Stefanie Dolson (sporting some new purple hair), and a charge taken by Monique Currie started off the second quarter.

Scoring didn’t seem to come as easy as it did for the Mystics in the first, and Thomas, who had her own fan club at the Verizon Center, brought the Sun back up by three mid-way through the quarter.

Hartley found herself on a fast break and after getting her own rebound and getting fouled, she tied the game at 25 with just fewer than four minutes to play in the half.

Four consecutive points by Douglas put the Sun up by two, 33-31, and this time a last second 3-point attempt by Latta couldn’t connect. The Mystics headed into halftime down by two points.

Thibault joked that he can’t say exactly what was said in the locker room at halftime but did say that they were challenged… and they responded.

The Mystics wasted no time coming back in the third quarter.

A basket by Meesseman, who is the only player with double-digit scoring at this point, and a layup by Hartely brought the Mystics up by two.

A few plays later, they found themselves up 41-37.

Hartley quickly followed suit and after having only a few points in the first half, found herself with 12 points part way through the third.

The Mystics began to pull away 46-37 as Meesseman became the the go-to force in the offensive attack.

With just over one minute left in the third quarter, she reached 18 points and 11 rebounds.

That earned her a standing ovation she received as she was subbed out for the final seconds of the quarter.

The Mystics entered the fourth quarter with their second largest lead of the game, 54-43.

Meesseman got another round of applause when she scored her 20th point, giving her a new WNBA career high and giving the Mystics another 11-point lead.

This didn’t stop the Sun from trying to make a comeback.

After a long jumper by Douglas and a foul by Dolson, also a former UConn all-American, that put Kelsey Bone at the line, the Sun closed the gap to six points, making it 60-54.

They brought the game within four with 3-point shots and quick fouls.

On a pair of free-throws, Latta brought the Mystics up by six with five seconds left, making her the third player on the Mystics to have double-digit scoring against the Sun.

With one last attempt by the Sun, the Mystics held on to their lead and time ran out for any more of a comeback.

The Mystics look to take this game and run with it.

Thibault called Friday’s game “a really good win” and honed in on the fact that the Mystics need to start making more of a home court advantage.

The have a two-day turn around before they attempt to make a home-court winning streak when they play San Antonio on Sunday.

Connecticut goes off to Madison Square Garden Sunday to play the Liberty (4-11), which failed several times to complete a rally and fell Friday night in the Garden to the Chicago.

New York coach Bill Laimbeer expressed frustration at the onoging losses to the Sky (7-8).

"We're tired of losing to Chicago," he said. "That's eight games in two years. We're frustrated and getting angry now.

"We can't seem to put together two halves or get all our players playing reasonably good on the same night," Laimbeer continued. "I thought our effort in the second half was solid, but timely turnovers and missed free throws -- all those little things add up to a frustrating loss."

Despite the win, Chicago suffered a frustrating night in other respects.

Earlier, star second-year player Elena Delle Donne, who had just returned in the previous game Wednesday in Connecticut, was unable to go again because of her ongoing battle with lyme disease, and was sent home to Delaware to be under the care of doctors there.

There is no timetable for her return and this situation is similar to her struggles during her All-America career at the University of Delaware, where she missed games.

Furthermore, right at the end of the game, Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot, suffered an undetermined knee injury.

On Wednesday, the Sky had played with their first full roster for the first time this season as all-pro Sylvia Fowles also returned.

Liberty all-pro Cappie Pondexter, the former Rutgers all-American, suffered one of the worst nights of her WNBA career, dating back to 2006, by behing held scoreless.

She shot 0-for-7 from the field.

"I thought we did an excellent job with making things tough for Cappie," Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said. "I didn't realize she did not score.

"They have a two-headed snake (the other being fourth-year pro Tina Charles), and to be able to take one of them away is something we really needed as a team."

New York had been idle all week since beating Eastern Conference leader the Atlanta Dream in the Garden, which stopped a previous slide.

Prince did not play in Chicago's previous Garden visit as she was allowed time off at the beginning of the season to re-charge her body.

The Sky's previous New York visits the past three seasons were actually over in New Jersey at the Prudential Center in Newark while the Garden underwent a major refurbishing in the summertime when the NBA Knicks and NHL Rangers were idle.

Besides Prince's big night, Tamera Young scored 13 points for Chicago, while former DePaul star Allie Quigley had 11 off the bench.

Charles had 16 points for New York while Alex Montgomery scored 11 points and Anna Cruz had 10.

Former Georgetown star Sugar Rodgers had 12 points off the bench.

"I thought Sugar gave us a lot of energy," Laimbeer said. "We're looking for scorers and tonight she was aggressive. We needed it."




- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad

Embracing the Chill: The Guru Gets the Plunge After Saying a Few Things First

By Mel Greenberg

Ok here it is. And since the video sound isnt superb here's the script to follow:)

The Guru Accepts The Challenge

When in the course of guru events it becomes necessary to give it up for the common good.

That is the way they wanted to write it a few miles from here down at independence hall.

Hello america. Welcome to philadelphia. Welcome back to temple this week my alma mater and a second episode of chilling for charity.

This is your Guru, mel greenberg, wbhof class of 2007 and big five hall of fame and a few more.

It is not true the only reason i am here is bill cosby was unavailable.

Now before you get the visual for which you came because of a chilling for charity challenge made by my soon to be former friends -- the temple women's basketball coaches, particularly assistant way veney who made the specific callout you will have to endure.

Id like to thank calamity -- what a name to start this, right? -- and niya at arizona for starting all this and as a side benefit bringing record numbers to womhoops guru this week on the internet.

Special thanks to sue donohue at the kay yow fund. As many of you oldtimers know kay and i were great friends and it was kay in the early years who jumped all over me for not keeping a history of what i was doing.

So you sids who always want notes about your teams in the ap poll give it up for kay yow.

Now for the business at hand and we'll do this in segments here are the callouts.

First because they are already challenged -- some guest callouts.

To celebrate imaculata going in as a team going into the naismith hall of fame in springfield in august and because they made me their honorary brother last fall representative callouts to marianne stanley with the wnba washington mystics and to theresa grentz and cathy rush.

Since im told the laws of texas preclude acceptance a revenge challenge to longhorns associate ad chris plonsky.

Now for the active challenges -- by now you know the rules -- either take the bath, pay the bucks, or do community service. You know where you fit.

First within my own womhoops guru group, a guy who also represents sids on ny list -- he is at coppin state in baltimore but equally important he has become a major writing force here in women's basketball -- rob knox.

And two of the blogerettes - our correspondent on the scene in tampa this winter -- kayla goldman.

And the rookie in washington who played here senior year last winter on an acl -- megan nipe.

Now we get into a strong philly flavor.

At northwestern -- coach joe mckeown and at tenn chattanooga jim foster.

In town here a former rutgers womens bb writer who is now doing the weather oh channel 10s telemondo sister -- violeta yaz who predicts a brief shower is about to strike here on broad street.

At espn, a guy i used to lead by the hand at the inquirer when he came from ny -- the illustrious stephn a. Smith.

And a guy i once did a wbb radio show here when he was a student -- kevin neghandi.

At the wnba home office -- miss credential -- samantha tagger.

And now to mark the memory of two dear people we lost in the past 12 months who would be right in the middle of all this

In the name of referee bonita spence i call out denis demayo

And in the name of richmond associate head coach ginny doyle i challenge her brother joe because we know her family would not get off scott free and here in the suburbs arcadia coach rose katz.

With that said if these become my former words i quote the advice yesterday of my good friend and former temple ad bill bradshaw.

Take it like a hall of famer, take it like an owl.

-- bring it.







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Embracing the Chill: Calamity Idea Brings Windfall to a Cause

(Note: For those who missed it, the first action still of the Guru's drenching is below this post.)

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- While we all await the finished video production of the Guru's #Chilling4Charity -- incidentally, a transcript will be posted here later of the Guru's presentation prior to the drenching so you can follow in case the audio isn't loud enough -- the Guru begins this feature by first recalling a tale of yesteryear.

A long time ago when the Guru was running the entire show in terms of the Associated Press women's poll before the worldwide news organization took control in 1994-95 and switched to writers from coaches, he would try to smuggle extra information in the weekly story to go with the poll when it rolled out each week aross the wires.

And so it was when coach Theresa Grentz had her Rutgers squad on the way to new horizons that the following occurred.

During those days when the Guru was multi-tasking before the word existed at The Philadelphia Inquirer, on a particular night he would finish his day job, shoot the 65-mile trip to Rutgers and arrive a few minutes before the tipoff, easily grabbing a parking spot a few steps from the doors to the Louis A. Brown Athletic Center.

And so it was on a particular week that first on Monday, the Guru noted in his AP poll story that Rutgers the following Thursday was going to host Virginia, which, for the moment would determine supremacy in the East basically because in terms of the NCAA geographical assignments, the Scarlet Knights and Cavaliers were the top two teams in the sector as the game approached.

And then the Guru returned to concentrating on his day job for the next several days.

While that was going on, unknown to the Guru, all the papers, which were quite a few, in Rutgers land grabbed that sentence and started running with it ans hyped the game with all kinds of advance features.

It didn't hurt either that Virginia coach Debbie Ryan was a native from nearby Mercer County.

Grentz, meanwhile, a promotional/marketing whiz from the day she was born or maybe affected from the hoopla of the Immaculata era for which she starred, if you don't believe the first, was out doing her own buildup to the affair.

And Tbursday now arrives, the Guru is doing his usual last-minute zip up to Rutgers, when upon getting to the parking lot, there were more cars than usual, and the attendants kept waving him further and further back from the entrance, sort of like what the front part of a statue of liberty play looks like in football when the quarterback is heading in reverse.

It was at the height of that moment, that the Guru blurted out to himself in frustration, "Dear God. I'm getting killed by my own monster."

Furthermore, it was a tight squeeze on press row in what was suddenly a three-quarter filled arena.

Rutgers, incidentally, won the game to continue on its way to national power status.

Now why does the Guru tell you this?

Well meet someone else who has suddenly found out that her little monster creation is making her routine days anything but routine.

This is the time of year that in her role as recruiting coordinator for the Arizona women's basketball program that Calamity (great name in light of all this) McEntire is getting ready to help head coach Niya Butts and the rest of the staff know what the early part of July travel will be like.

But thanks to her monster, staying focused and un-distracted has become quite difficult.

Bccause it was McEntire's idea, fully credited by Butts in all the interviews she has given, that in a matter of a few days set off the "Chilling4Charity instant fundraiser that has quickly engulfed collegiate and WNBA women's baskerball and is now spreading to other sports.

Just Thursday, for example, among the nonstop creative highlights on youtube appearing all over the country, one could view WNBA Washington Mystics coach Mike Thibault and his staff and a few star players outside the Verizon Center, or Delaware coach Tina Martin and her staff, getting deluged by giant containers of ice cold water.

And, yes, it was at Temple, that coach Tonya Cardoza and her staff gave the Guru a giant chilling shower, stinging at first, on what was a hot and humid day here in Philadelphia.

The video is expected Friday but one shot is already up on the Guru's @womhoopsguru Twitter account.

"I'll bet you never thought when you started writing about this that you'd end up in the middle of it," McEntire laughed over the phone after the Guru had dried out.

"I could have never, never imagined it would turn out to all this," McEntire said of the trend that is likely to give the Kay Yow Foundation that fights breast cancer an unforeseen financial windfall on top of its normal fundraising activities.

"I'll tell you, I'm a person that likes to think outside the box," McEntire explained the seeds out of her brain that has resulted in the support for the Kay Yow Fund named for the late North Carolina State coach and Hall of Famer who died in 2009 after a lengthy battle against breast cancer.

"I happened to be reading about some of these coldwater challenges and they seemed fun. But then I saw one that was event for a charity and it seemed to be working well," McEntire related.

"So we're going to the car, recently, Niya, our operations director, and myself, and I say, 'I got this wild idea but you will never like it.'

"And we do a lot of things out here. We've embraced social meeting and are doing all kinds of things with it," McEntire said.

"But they liked it from the first mention. And then we talked about what we could do, but we looked at it as a little fun for a few days within the Pac-12 before we all hit the recruiting trail in July.

"And of course, we would create a little benefit for the foundation," McEntire contined.

"But then the Pac-12 coaches started challenging their colleagues in other conferences, though it still wasn't that big a deal for a while.

"In fact, we had this great idea for a graphic -- we were going to have a map of the United States and everytime a coach took the challenge, we'd put them on the map.

"Guess what. It is abslutely impossible to do that now -- we got to 400 coaches real quick and that was it."

Let foundation head Sue Donohue, the former head of NCAA women's basketball, explain what it has been like managing information at her end.

"You know, we've had the metrics people working for us, telling us how many times the #Chilling4Charity hashtag has been used and all the other measurements," Donohue said.

"But we just have to wait till this dies down, if it ever dies down, to get a true handle on it. When we got the first readout, the totals were astounding and I gave them to the folks from the media and other places who were asking," Donohoe said.

"But then a few hours later, those numbers were totally outdated, and less time after that, those new totals were no longer accurate and it has been just wild, but at the same time, so much fun."

The Guru, himself, has been stunned looking at the computer programs giving him the reports of all-time pageviews on the blog and those numbers are not just edging the prevdious ones -- their leaping over them.

Two weeks ago, the Guru had never seen 3000 pageviews attained until one of his associates asked to do a feature on WNBA rookie and former UConn star Bria Hartley.

The number soared all day after the post hit the internet but it was discovered a big source of viewers were coming from the UConn message board, which has a few people who monitor the Guru's reports here.

Then it got a little quiet until the Guru posted his comprehensive report Monday on the Arizona staff's initiative and through Thursday there have been four straight days of 3000 or more page views, imcluding the site 24-hour cycle record of 3,859 that was reached Wednesday.

And actually, when the next cycle started, there were 150 new page views in the next half-hour.

News organizations who had not paid a lot of attention, initially, are trying to catch up to the challenge phenomenon.

ESPN sent the Guru a note early Thursday asking if he was keeping track or knew who was of how many of the sports network giant's personalities had been challenged.

One thing the Guru has noticed. In the past coaches have been told to get more involved in the marketing of their programs but many have resisted, saying their jobs are the game strategies and recruiting players for winning programs but leave the other stuff to the sports information and marketing departments on campus.

But just look at all the productions on youtube right now and many of them are being done primarily just from within the basketball offices, since most places have their own video co-ordinators who have editing skills.

For example, when the Guru arrived at Temple, which has a growing campus industry in terms of multimedia, he expected to see many of those folks ready to shoot and direct the action.

But that isn't what came down. The entire shoot was done with Cardoza's staff with cell phones.

Of course, some big time expertise exists with the Owls. Stacey Nasser, for example, is a former women's basketballmanager in her undegraduate days, on Geno Auriemma's powerful Conneticut staff.

So as the Guru, who brought hia own script since he was the only one to fill the time, readied, it was Nasser, telling the crew, which coach would do the side angles while she shot the main focus, and another at the same time would take the still shots for twitter, and of course, there were the two who had the honor of standing behind the Guru and lifting the container and letting loose.

Meanwhile, back in Arizona, McEntire was telling the Guru later in the day of one sport that might get in the mix big time.

"Our football people embraced it the other day and they are shouting out to other football places, so we'll see where this goes."

But McEntire can wait a while for the results to come so she can move on to take care of the regular business at hand.

After all, you never know what new monster recruiting will bring in terms of court success.

Just ask UConn coach Geno Auriemma who applied his ideas in a place in the middle of nowhere to see his staff and players a few decades later sit down for their soaking by opening the segment with a shout, "Welcome to Storrs (Ct.), The Basketball Capital of the World. And we're Chillin' for Charity."

-- Mel









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Philly Summer League: Stipa's Scoring Explosion Keeps Purple Perfect

By Mel Greenberg

HATBORO, Pa. -- Lafayette incoming freshman Samantha Stipa of Spring-Ford High had Thursday night's top performance, as well as that of the young season, with 27 points, while in the most competitive game of the five played saw Red get its first win of the season by edging Black 55-54 in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women's NCAA Summer Basketball League to complete the first week of play.

There was one forfeit with Maroon beating Kelly Green 2-0 in terms of the sixth game at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades in Willow Grove Industrial Commons.

Four players overall scored 20 or more points to add to the ongoing honor roll in that category.

Five teams stay unbeaten -- four at 2-0 and Sky Blue, which had a bye on Tuesday's opening night, at 1-0.

Here are the recaps:

Red 55, Black 54 -- It is not known, based on the information provided, whether the outcome was decided on a last second successful shot or defensive rejection, but Red team's Lauren Rothfeld, a sophomore at Saisbury in Maryland out of Upper Dublin, had 11 points, while Tuga Goff, a sophomore at Rosemont, also out of Upper Dublin, had nine points and a pair of three-pointers.

Likewise, Catey McFadden, an incoming Wikes' freshman out of Archbishop Wood, had nine points with a pair of treys for Red (1-1).

The Black (0-2) squad, which is also the Division II-Philadelphia University team, got 15 points from incoming freshman Rachel Day out of Archbishop Wood, while incoming freshman Jess Kaminski, also out of Archbishop Wood, got 10 points as did senior Mary Newell.

Purple 80, Hunter Green 50 -- The winners (2-0) stayed unbeaten on Samantha Stipa's 27 points, as mentioned in the opening paragraph of this report. Stipa connected on three 3-pointers.

Lia Disciascio, a Division III Scranton junior out of Cardinal O'Hara, added 18 points to the attack, a total also collected by Scranton sophomore Sarah Payonk out of Spring-Ford, who also had three of Purple's nine 3-pointers.

Erin Fenningham, a Division II Holy Family junior out of St. Basil, was one of three Hunter Green (0-2) players to score eight points. The other two were Maya Thomas, an incoming freshman at Millersville out of Plymouth-Whitemarsh High who also had a pair of three-pointers, and Erin Martin, a junior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania also out of P-W.

White 84, Royal Blue 59 -- The Division II West Chester squad stayed unchallenged at 2-0 as junior Brittany Sicinski out of Downingtown West scored 20 points, sophomore Emily Torrance out of Henderson High collected 14 points, senior Kendall Benovy scored 13, senior Mariah Poerll scored 12 points, and junior Dallas Ely was also in double figures with 10 points.

Royal Blue (0-2) got 16 points from Albright junior Emily O'Donnell out of William Tennent High, while Daphne Ginn, a sophomore at Stevens Tech, scored 15 points, fueled by three 3-pointers.

Gold 79, Orange 68 -- The winners (2-0) used 11 three-pointers in their attack to stay perfect and send Orange (0-1) home with a loss in its first-game of the year after taking the first bye among the 13 teams on opening night.

Alex Smith, a Holy Cross senior out of the Peddie School, had 22 points and connected four times beyond the arc, while Jasmine Elum, a 2012 Bethman-Cookman grad out of Bodine High, had 21 points and fired three 3-pointers.

Pallavi Juneja. a Haverford senior out of the Peddie School, scored 14 points with a pair of treys.

Kelsey Watson, a Division II sophomore out of Methacton High, had 19 points for Orange, which also got 18 from Jenna Carroll, an incomcing William & Mary freshman. Alyssa Bonenberger, a Division II Kutztown senior out of Northampton who is the younger sister of Penn star Kara Bonenbergr, scored 13 points.

Navy Blue 62, Pink 46 -- Lauren Gold, a Shippensburg sophomore out of Abington Friends, scored 17 points, while Devin Gold, a Caldwell senior out of Councl Rock North, scored 14 points with a pair of teys, to given Navy Blue it's first win of the season and get even at 1-1.

Janaiah Elum, a Penn State Abington junior out of Northeast High, scored 12 points.

Scoring for Pink (-1), which is also the Division II University of Sciences of Philadelphia squad, saw sophomore Brianne Traub, the only player in double figures, collected 19 points with three three points, while Amber Reiley, a junior, and incoming freshman Laura Trisch out of Archbishop Wood, each scored seven points.

As mentioned Kelly Green (0-2) stayed winless for failing to have enough players available for the 7 p.m. tipoff and forfeited the game to Maroon, which joined the four-way tie at the top at 2-0.

Commissioner Kessler Undergoes Successful Surgery

Longtime commissioner David B. Kessler, who is missing the first several weeks of the season, had successful hip replacement surgery Thursday morning.

"They said everything went well and while it took a while longer for him to come out of recovery, David looked well and said he felt well," reported Joe McGeever.

Individual Scoring Performances
(20 or more points)

27 pts. -- Samantha Stipa, Purple (W), vs. H.G., June 26
24 pts. -- Jasmine Elum, Gold (W), vs Hunter Green, June 24
23 pts. -- Lexi Scrivano, Kelly Green (L),vs. White, June 24
22 pts. -- Mariah Powell, White (W),vs. Kelly Green, June 24
22 pts. -- Alex Smith, Gold (W), vs. Orange, June 26
21 pts. -- Alex Smith, Gold (W), vs. Hunter Green, June 24.
21 pts. == Jasmine Elum, Gold (W), vs. Orange, June 26
20 pts. -- Brittany Sicinski, White (W), vs. R.B., June 26

Running Tracker for Playoff Seeds and Tiebreakers
Placements will change in mid-July to reflect seeds

Purple (2-0) vs. N.B.(W), vs. H.G.(W),
Maroon (2-0) vs. Red (W), vs. K.G. (W-F)
Gold (2-0) vs. H.G. (W), vs. Orange (W)
White (2-0) vs. K.G.(W), vs. R.B. (W)
Sky Blue (1-0) vs. R.B.(W),
Pink (1-1) vs. Black (W), N.B. (L)
Navy Blue (1-1) vs. Purple (L), vs. Pink (W)
Red (1-1) vs. Maroon (L), vs. Black (W)
Orange (0-1) vs. Gold (L)
Royal Blue (0-2) vs. Sky Blue (L), vs. White (L)
Kelly Green (0-2) vs. White (L), vs. Maroon (L-f)
Black (0-2) vs. Pink (L), vs. Red (L)
Hunter Green (0-2) vs. Gold (L), vs. Purple (L)

Standings (Thru June 30)

Team, W-L, Pct., G.B., Pts., Opp Pts.

White, 2-0, 1.000, --, 183 108
Gold, 2-0, 1.000, --, 163 127
Purple, 2-0, 1.000, --, 149 94
Maroon, 2-0, 1.000, --, 50 42
Sky Blue, 1-0, 1.000, 0.5, 93 46
Pink, 1-1, .500, 1.0, 105 115
Navy Blue, 1-1, .500, 1.0, 106 115
Red, 1-1, .500, 1.0, 97 102
Orange, 0-1, .000, 1.5, 68 79
Black, 0-2, .000, 2.0, 107 114
Hunter Green, 0-2, .000, 2.0, 109 164
Royal Blue, 0-2, .000, 2.0, 105 137
Kelly Green, 0-2, .000, 2.0, 49 101

Thursday Results

Red 55, Black 44
White 84, Royal Blue 59
Gold 79, Orange 68
Purple 80, Hunter Green 50
Navy Blue 62, Pink 46
Maroon 2, Kelly Green 0 (forfeit)
Bye: Sky Blue

Tuesday Results

Purple 69, Navy Blue 44
Maroon 48, Red 42
Sky Blue 93, Royal Blue 46
White (West Chester) 99, Kelly Green 49
Pink (USP) 59, Black (Phila. U.) 53
Gold 84, Hunter Green 59
Bye: Orange

Looking Ahead

Two weeks from now this space will be used to write a look ahead to the next night's action as the implications of next games become more meaningful.

Upcoming Schedule

Tuesday, July 1

7 p.m.

Sky Blue (1-0) vs. Pink (1-1), Court 1
Hunter Green (0-2) vs. Navy Blue (0-2), Court 2
Purple (2-0) vs. White (2-0), Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Gold (2-0) vs. Maroon (2-0)
Orange (1-0) vs. Black (0-2)
Red (1-1) vs. Royal Blue (0-2)

Bye: Kelly Green

Wednesday, July 2

7 p.m.

Pink vs. Hunter Green, Court 1
Sky Blue vs. White, Court 2
Navy Blue vs. Red, Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Kelly Green vs. Black, Court 1
Maroon vs. Royal Blue, Court 2
Orange vs. Purple, Court 3

Bye: Gold

That's it for this report.

-- Mel




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Embracing the Big Chill: The Guru Readying His Challenge Acceptance

(Guru note. Opening night in the Philly summer league is directly under this post. And update to numbers you will see referenced in the story -- 8 a.m. and just crossed 2200 page views.)

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- By now you know. Despite helping certain people occupy the jobs they now have at the Guru's alma mater, etc., the response from them suddenly turns and instead of past gratitude, the Guru gets called out and told, "We got the shirt, we got the shirts, we got whatever apparel necessary, we got the bucket, and certainly we got the water, so there's no escape, you are going to get it."

One thing the Guru did get was a dispensation extention because of his schedule across the current two days ending tonight.

The time and place for the Guru to make good on the #Chillin4Charity" challenge is 3 p.m. Thursday at Temple's McGonigle Hall, precise location to be announced, so if you want to see this in person, join the crowd.

Whatever happened to going to Bill Cosby for these kind of things?

Temple is not airing this on their live streaming network -- the only live streaming will be the gush of ice cold water on the Guru's head and whatever else gets hit on the way to the ground.

But obviously this group is anxious to create the video that they hope to draw world-wide attention.

It was only yesterday that Veney would have taken the $50 bucks on a night out cracking crabs.

This would never have happened in the Staley era, right Dawn? I know you all down South are waiting to see this one.

Right now the presentation with Lin Dunn and her Indiana Fever group is hard to top but we're thinking.

The Guru, of course, accepts this because one, the Arizona concept has caused all-time page views to the web site for his presentation of what is going on, and that can be found a few posts below this if you haven't read it.

And to honor the long friendship of Kay Yow.

And because when Sue Donohoe, the head of the Kay Yow Foundation, technically it is the Kay Yow Fund, says of her experience, "I took it like a woman. I didn't cry out," how can the Guru say no.

Actually, he can't afford to say no since the bucks need to go into travel at his end to get to Connecticut up and back tonight (Wed.) for the Cbicago game.

Speaking of page views, can some expert send the Guru a note, since it has now gotten out of his grasp, what is going on because it is 7 a.m. in the East, third day of the cycle since the first posting of reporting the whole #Chillin4Charity phenomenon, and after two virtual record setters, 3222 page views, Monday, 3225 on Tuesday.

Right now the standing records are slightly above the current numbers and set last week with Rob Knox's Bria Hartley feature, but that was driven by the Guru fans on the Boneyard.

As of 7 a.m., we just crossed 2000 page views, five hours ahead of previous crossings.

And there are 13 hours still alive in this cycle.

Anyhow, back to preparations. The Guru will do his callouts before the gush of wetness since they could be the last words ever uttered (some would be happy at that) depending on the effect of liquid hitting body.

That's much different than the recent similarity in Knoxville of liquid and body but that was due to the generosity of Delaware prominent volleyball coach Bonnie Kenny at the hotel bar.

The Guru is not going to give away the farm here right now but under consideration for challenges that will be announced are some with Hall of Fame status, revenge on someone prominent in one of the nation's largest states, a special tribute challenge that you all will like -- recipient still being sought, and maybe one or two others.

They will also be of the type to represent many of the venues the Guru has been associated with, so one could have a CoSida background but not necessarily be a WBB SID right now.

And while the suggestion at taking a shot inside the halls of the NCAA sounds cute with some of the names suggested, the Guru is mindful that the Indy folks still call the shot as to who sits on the floor courtside and who sits on the roof when March Madness in April rolls around for the final chapter.

And, hey, based on her actions last time around, Anucha would be too busy shooting selfies from her cell phone oblivious to the gallons being dumped on her -- ok, gallon, since the NCAA has a tight budget.

So hang in for more updates as he get closer and since you all are still here, the Guru offers a few quickie news items.

USA Coming to Delaware?

The Guru's friends up north in reporting that after the Annapolis training in early September, there will be a stop in Bridgeport, Conn., for a game, are also saying that Delaware is another likely stop along the way.

Didn't know Delle Donne had a bye to the team -- just joking -- and speaking of page views, during her formative years, the Guru used to call her his internet cash cow because of the number of page views when she was in a post as oppsoed to playing the post, which she'll do returning to action tonight.

In terms of what is happening right now, a good day in the past mentioning Elena was worth 1100 page views.

Anyhow, back to this item, when the Guru was in the idea factory last season putting together what became the Chicago preseason game at Delaware to a sellout (as predicted) with a lot of corporate sponsors (also as predicted) he did note to USA women's honcho Carol Callan that perhaps something could be done USA-wise on the back end of the WNBA season, but she thought at the time the schedule would be crowded.

But it would be worth looking at for 2015 though this was before Annapolis became the training site a scant hour and change south of the Delaware campus.

Just last week in Knoxville, given that Geno, Cheryl and Dawn are Philly people, it could be fun to do a training in the City of Brotherly love next season.

But things may happen sooner -- an opponent may still have to be found -- Yo NCAA, how about letting our Division I locals put together a psuedo allstar team and play in the Palestra.

Villanova seats 6,000 and of course it is easy to drop back down to Delaware to play or train at Delaware and come up here.The Palestra or Temple are also viable localtions for this one.

So stay tuned to see if it will be a reality quicker.

WBCA Search

The hunt for a new leader of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to succeed Beth Bass in the home office is making progress and interviews with a ballpark of four or five persons -- names not given -- are probably going to occur this weekend in suburban Atlanta.

When the search committee has their person or several, the suggestions will go to the executive committee, which, under the bylaws, makes the actual call, though one source said, obviously, if the work of the search committee is positive, then that would be a strong influence.

Then the offer will be made and the lawyering will begin resulting eventually in the coaches getting their woman -- or man.

Stay tuned on that too.

So time to run. Lots to do and a train to catch, hopefully, if the travel sugar daddy was on the case last night.

The Guru will return in late morning unless it turns out he will be driving.

-- Mel


- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad

Phily Summer League-I: Gold Uses Hail of Treys to Opening Night Win

By Mel Greenberg

HATBORO, Pa. -- Former Saint Joseph's stars Katie Kuester and Erin Shields may have departed from the Philadelphia/Suburban Women's NCAA Summer Basketball League to the next chapter in their careers but apparently a barrage of three pointers did not leave with them.

Coach Keith Wood's Gold squad successfully connected with 13 attempts from beyond the arc for an 84-59 win over Hunter Green on opening night Tuesday at the Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades located in Willow Grove Industrial Commons.

Incidentally, for the purposes of reporting all summer, class affilations with schools will mean the designee as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in the fall.

The word "incoming" may be used once in the early part of a posting to establish the designation.


And the complex is down turnpike drive off Davisville Road and there is a traffic light at the intersection.

Opening night had its usual imperfections in part caused by s aituation with the NCAA addressed in previous posts that is keeping Division I players sidelined for the first three or four games.

Since adjustments were made to address those problems a new NCAA change in legislation that went unnoticed by many has caused a few roster shifts so in the next week a new set of rosters will be posted.

It's too complex to address here and its academic because the affected players are at Division I schools so they won't play until next Wednesday at the earliest or the following week depending on whether their respective teams have byes.

Other noteworthy mentions are a scoring explosion in a lopsided 99-49 win by White over Kelly Green.

Veteran coach Ted Hagedorn, who has won a few titles in recent seasons prior to last summer, might have been better off just taking a forfeit that almost occurred until enough players showed up just in time for his Kelly Green squad, which is one of the ones greatly affected by the forced Division I delayed participants.

White is the same as Division II West Chester, which as are Division III teams, allowed to play as entire units under NCAA rules.

Sky Blue also got into the 90s with a 93-46 triumph over Royal Blue.

Team Orange was the first of the 13 teams in the league to have a bye on the 12-game schedule prior to the playoffs in August.

While the league is a Tuesday and Thursday entity, next week will be a back-to-back Tuesday-Wednesday setup because of the onset of the Fourth of July holiday.

Finally, the Guru wishes Commissioner Kessler well as he heads into hip replaement surgery Thursday morning.

In his place, right arm Steve Michielli is running the show.
His cell is 267-252-2740 and his email is sdmichielli@yahoo.com

Recap Opening Night

Gold 84, Hunter Green 59 -- The winners exploded with 13 treys as three former collegiate stars led the way.

Jasmine Elum, a 2012 graduate of Bethune-Cookman, scored a night high 24 points among all teams while teammate Alex Smith, a recent Holy Cross graduate, scored 21 points.

Both were among four players scoring 20 or more points in the three doubleheaders.

Gold's Ashley Wood, a recent graduate of Kutztown, also daughter of the Gold coach, added 15 points.

Sarah Listenbee, a junior at Mary Washington, scored a team high 18 points for Hunter Green, while Erin Fenningham, a Division II Holy Family junior, added 15 points and Holy Family sophmore Yasmin Walker scored 13 points.

White 99, Kelly Green 49 -- West Chester incoming senior Mariah Powell led the scoring outburst with 22 points for the winners while her collegiate teammates junior Dallas Ely and senior Kendall Benovy scored 13 and eight points, respectively.

Junior Brittany Sicinski's name is listed on the sheet given the Guru but no points are listed so the Guru will try to get a clarafication next time around.

On Kelly Green, Lexi Scrivano, a junior at Millersville, scored 23 points, completing all the 20-point scorers on the night that came out of these first two games.

Millersville sophomore Courtney Hinnant scored 10 points and Loyola of Maryland freshman Carly Monzo out of Mount St. Joseph's, scored eight points.

Sky Blue 93, Royal Blue 46 -- Recent Holy Family graduate Carolyne Heston scored 19 points for the winners, while recent Division III Gettysburg graduate Alyssa Isler of the Bullets fired away for 15 points.

Recent Holy Family graduate Mary Ellen McCollum scored 16 points.

Albright junior Emily O'Donnell scored 15 points for Royal Blue, Stevens sophomore Erica Guketlov scored 12, while Sarah Brophy, an incoming freshman at Hobart & William Smith College out of Bridgewater Raritan High in central New Jersey, and Sydney Darby, an incoming freshman at Stevens Tech out of Wall High, each scored seven points.

Purple 69, Navy Blue 44 -- Sarah Payonk, a Division III Scranton sophomore out of Spring-Ford, scored 12 points for the winning Team Purple squad, while NXoelle Aliciea, a Scranton junior out of Downingtown East, scored 11 points, and Faith DeVlieger, another Scranton sophomore, scored eight points.

Navy Blue's Devin Gold, a Caldwell College senior out of Council Rock North, scored nine points, while Stephanie Keyes, a Penn State Abington junior out of Archbishop Wood, and Jessica Schimdt, also a PSU-Abington junior and out of Abington High, scored eight points each.

Maroon 48, Red 42 -- Elena Roadcloud, a Division III Ursinus junior out of Springside, had 12 points for Maroon, which came out on top in one of the two most competitive games of the night.

Brittany Wood, a Division III Delaware Valley junior out of Archbishop Ryan, collected eight points for Maroon, while Taylor Bryant, listed at Penn with no class affiliation, scored seven points.

Lauren Rothfield, a Division III Salisbury sophomore out of Upper Dublin, scored 7 points for Red, as did Brianna Spector, an Oneonta State sophomore also out of Upper Dublin, each scored seven points for Red.

Tuga Goff, a sophomore at Division III Rosemont also out of Upper Dublin, and Kaitlin Kelly, a freshman at DeSales, each scored six points for Red.

Pink 59, Black 53 -- The other tightly contested game of the night saw a matchup of Local Division II rivals Philadelphia University (Black) and University of the Sciences of Philadelphia (Pink) who battle with Holy Family among the locals in the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference.

The USP/Pink squad prevailed in this one as sophomore Brianne Traub scored 17 points, Sarah Abbonizio, targeted for 2020 graduation out of Episcopal Academy, scored 12 points, and freshman Caitlin Conroy scored nine points.

Remember, when the word targeted is used when discussing USP/Pink, it means the player is on the school's work-study program that spans more than four years.

Senior Monica Schacker of Philadelphia University out of Germantown Academy scored 12 points for Black, senior Najah Jacobs out of Central scored 11 points, and senior Victoria Arnao out of Archbishop Wood scored eight points.

Individual Scoring Performances
(20 or more points)

24 pts. -- Jasmine Elum, Gold (W), vs Hunter Green, June 24
23 pts. -- Lexi Scrivano, Kelly Green (L),vs. White, June 24
22 pts. -- Mariah Powell, White (W),vs. Kelly Green, June 24
21 pts. -- Alex Smith, Gold (W), vs. Hunter Green, June 24.

Running Tracker for Playoff Seeds and Tiebreakers
Placements will change in mid-July to reflect seeds

Purple (1-0) vs. Navy Blue (W),
Maroon (1-0) vs. Red (W),
Sky Blue (1-0) vs. Royal Blue (W),
White (-0) vs. Kelly Green (W),
Pink (1-0) vs. Black (W),
Gold (1-0) vs. Hunter Green (W)
Navy Blue (0-1) vs. Purple (L)
Red (0-1) vs. Maroon (L)
Royal Blue (0-1) vs. Sky Blue (L)
Kelly Green (0-1) vs. White (L)
Black (0-1) vs. Pink (L)
Hunter Green (0-1) vs. Gold (L)
Orange (0-0)

Standings (Thru June 25)

Team, W-L, Pct., G.B., Pts., Opp Pts.

White, 1-0, 1.000, --, 99 49
Sky Blue, 1-0, 1.000, --, 93 46
Gold, 1-0, 1.000, --, 84 59
Purple, 1-0, 1.000, --, 69 44
Pink, 1-0, 1.000, --, 59 53
Maroon, 1-0, 1.000, --, 48 42
Orange, 0-0, .000, 0.5, 00 00
Red, 0-1, .000, 1.0, 42 48
Black, 0-1, .000, 1.0, 53 59
Navy Blue, 0-1, .000, 1.0 , 44 69
Hunter Green, 0-1, .000, 1.0, 59 84
Royal Blue, 0-1, .000, 1.0, 46 93
Kelly Green, 0-1, .000, 1.0, 49 99

Tuesday Results

Purple 69, Navy Blue 44
Maroon 48, Red 42
Sky Blue 93, Royal Blue 46
White (West Chester) 99, Kelly Green 49
Pink (USP) 59, Black (Phila. U.) 53
Gold 84, Hunter Green 59
Bye: Orange

Looking Ahead

Two weeks from now this space will be used to write a look ahead to the next night's action as the implications of next games become more meaningful.

Upcoming Schedule

Thursday, June 26

7 p.m.

Maroon (1-0) vs. Kelly Green (0-1), Court 1
Gold (1-0) vs. Orange (0-0), Court 2
Red (0-1) vs. Black (0-1), Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Pink (1-0) vs. Navy (0-1), Court 1
Purple (1-0) vs. Hunter Green (0-1), Court 2
White (1-0) vs. Royal Blue (0-1), Court 3

Bye: Sky Blue

Tuesday, July 1

7 p.m.

Sky Blue vs. Pink, Court 1
Hunter Green vs. Navy Blue, Court 2
Purple vs. White, Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Gold vs. Maroon
Orange vs. Black
Red vs. Royal Blue

Bye: Kelly Green

Wednesday, July 2

7 p.m.

Pink vs. Hunter Green, Court 1
Sky Blue vs. White, Court 2
Navy Blue vs. Red, Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Kelly Green vs. Black, Court 1
Maroon vs. Royal Blue, Court 2
Orange vs. Purple, Court 3

Bye: Gold

That's it for this report.

-- Mel




- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad

Philly Summer League Preview: Play Opens Tuesday Night

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- Annual play in the Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women's Summer Basketball League begins Tuesday night at 7 p.m. once again in Kelly Bolish Gym, Home of the AAU Renegades, at the end of Turnpike Drive in Willow Grove Commons business park in Horsham, Pa.

That is no different from the last several years along with the ongoing snack bar offering tasty and cheap items. As always, admission is free.

But there are some differences on several fronts, including the Summer of 2014 is launching a week later than usual because the NCAA claimed longtime commissioner David B. Kessler had not applied for needed certification so Division I athletes could participate.

While Kessler was stunned at that news, he's been applying for years, adjustments were made, including the delay and also getting as many nightly team byes into the front of the schedule that were loaded with D-1 players.

This way they would miss only three games, or at worst four, be charged pro-rated, and thus will begin appearing next week or after the fourth of July, which is next week.

Competition wise, this note says it all that was sent to the Guru via twitter from former Saint Joseph's star Katie Kuester, who was associated with the last several champions, including also coaching the 2013 winner,

"Time for a new dynasty."

That's writer, this time retirement from the league is for real as Kuester is now down in the Research Triangle on the staff of the University of North Carolina, where several persons there have lauded her work in recent months to the Guru.

Also the dangerous Shields sisters -- former Saint Joseph's star Erin, former Boston College star Kerri, and current San Diego star Shannon -- are not on any rosters this year.

The rosters are still loaded with Saint Joseph's players, and also have representatives from Lehigh and Lafayette, Penn, Villanova, and even a player from Delaware.

The Guru posted the rosters here several days ago so just scroll down around the other ongoing coverage to find them. Once the Guru can print them out for himself it will be easier to put some meat into the coverage, so to speak.

Thus play may be wide open though Ted Hagerdon and Keith Wood, who have coached teams at the top of standings in the past, will still be on the sidelines.

And as allowed under NCAA rules, the entire squads of Division 2 Philadelphia University, University of the Sciences of Philadelphia, and West Chester will compete, while Division III Scranton will dominate another roster, and Division II Holy Family looks a little more sprinkled.

The rosters posted identifiy who those teams are.

Medical Ward

The commissioner actually won't be on the scene Tuesday night or the next several weeks because of hip replacement surgery coming later this week, though once he is up to it, he will be barking orders by remote to his underlings, including your Guru.

Running the place on the scene is Stephen Michielli, and for specific questions, his cell is 267-252-2740, and his email is sdmichielli@yahoo.com.

Also, those of you reading this and have further questions as to driving directions, etc., feel free to email the Guru with your phone number, if needed, and he will be reachable during the day Tuesday and will have the usual post-game report sometime late Tuesday night.

Michielli will be printing a modify version of the nightly newsletter the commissioner hands out.

That said and because the schedules the commissioner sent were in a format the Guru can't de-claw quickly for posting, here is the immediate schedule for this week for Tuesday and Thursday night.

Tuesday Night Games -- June 24

7 p.m. (remember, if a team can't take the floor after a 15 minute delay for arrivals it is a forfeit.

Purple vs. Navy Blue -- Court 1
Royal Blue vs. Sky Blue -- Court 2
Back vs. Pink -- Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Red vs. Maroon -- Court 1
White vs. Kelly Green -- Court 2
Hunter Green vs. Gold -- Court 3

Bye: Orange -- There are again 13 teams and Pink is a new color in terms of squad names.

Thursday Night Games -- June 26

7 p.m.

Maroon vs. Kelly Green -- Court 1
Orange vs. Gold -- Court 2
Red vs. Black -- Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Navy Blue vs. Pink -- Court 1
Hunter Green vs. Purple -- Court 2
White vs. Royal Blue -- Court 3

Bye: Sky Blue

It appears next week due to the holiday, action will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

That slate will be published in a few days.

As this post ends, the Guru reminds Rob Knox has a WNBA feature right under on Atlanta Dream veteran Swin Cash, a UConn alum.

Also, he is trying to figure out when he will appear at Temple to fulfill the #Chilling4Charity callout issued early Monday night by Owls assitant Way Veney.

Stay tuned.

-- Mel




- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad

WNBA: Cash’s Charitable and Championship Career Has Been One to Cherish

By Rob Knox
@knoxrob1

NEW YORK – Atlanta Dream forward Swin Cash is a humanitarian, who is a living bridge to the past, present and future of the WNBA.

Cash has seen everything during her 13-year career in a league that’s been in existence for 18 years since the WNBA launched play in the summer of 1997.

“One thing that has benefitted me the most has been the sustainability,” Cash said.

“For a long time, people didn’t think this league would be here. It seems like for years people were ‘like it’s going to fold this year or it’s going to fold next year’, but after 18 years, we’re still here.

"The sustainability early on, going through the great depression for us along with the recession of finances and knowing our league is still here is one of the things I can really look at and be proud of.”

Cash is carving a wonderful legacy that few athletes will be able to match. She’s made an impact everywhere she’s been with her time and generosity in Detroit, Seattle, Chicago and now, Atlanta.

An ambassador for the league, Cash has contributed to the growth of the WNBA by performing at a high level with regularity, sitting on the executive board and being part of the negotiations of the last two CBA’s, which has resulted in better benefits and quality of life for its players.

“It’s good to know that you’re leaving a legacy that other players can look at and understand how to grow it,” Cash said. “I always wanted to be a player that even when I left, that I left something for the players behind me.”

The 34-year-old Cash knows she’s in the twilight of a remarkable career, but she’s not ready to hang up the high-tops.

Cash did get emotional last week when she learned that her good friend Ruth Riley retired. They won a championship together with the Detroit Shock and were fierce rivals when Riley attended Notre Dame and Cash played for the University of Connecticut.

“She’s not only a teammate that I’ve been able to win with, but also a close friend,” Cash said of Riley. “I know what she’s meant to the league, not only on the court, but off the court.

"I’ve always been very clear about wanting to leave this game on my terms and feeling good about it. It felt good for her to take that next step and to know that in the next year or two that I am going to make that choice and decision.

"When will it be? I am not sure. I know the end is near for the direction I want to go into next.”

Cash plans to continue her philanthropic ways, pursue various business opportunities and move into broadcasting full-time.

She’s a three-time WNBA champion, five-time All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Cash also helped the Huskies capture two NCAA championships in 2000 and 2002.

She is much more than a role model.

Consider her the Derek Jeter of the WNBA. That may be such a high standard, but Cash is worthy of the comparison. Regardless of profession, Cash is arguably one of the most influential and inspiring people in the nation.

“He played the game tremendously hard and did it with class,” Cash said of Jeter. “He carried himself a certain way and that’s what people will remember about him. The accolades will disappear, but how you treated people, conducted yourself and did business is what people will remember the most. I love Jeter so it’s an honor to be thought of in the same sentence as him.”

She is the Founder of Swin Cash Enterprises, LLC and the Founder of Cash Building Blocks, LP, an urban development company that renovates and offers affordable homes for low income families.

As if that weren’t enough, the McKeesport, Pennsylvania native, is the founder of Cash for Kids, a charity with the mission to “motivate, educate, & elevate” kids.

Through Cash for Kids, she has helped over a thousand children across the nation with a particular focus on fitness.

Cash spent time in Nigeria during the off-season working with the “Power Forward” program, which helped promote health education and build basketball programs at various schools.

“The trip was life-changing for me because I was at a point in my life where I was unsure on the basketball front,” Cash said. “But I was very sure what I was doing as far as helping people. I am at a stage right now where it’s less of me and more of God, really having peace right now to let him use me in ways through philanthropy, through business and just trying to help other people.”

One of six women on the planet to have won an NCAA championship, a WNBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal, Cash has done plenty of things that many people could only dream of like visiting the White House on at least three occasions and traveling the world.

Cash has made an impact in the lives of others, and written a book about her amazing journey, which included conquering cancer.

“It was a blessing that we caught it early,” Cash said. “I got a MRI on my back and ended up finding out that I had a tumor in my kidney. That started the whole process of being diagnosed.

"I get checked out once a year. Everything is good since the surgery in 2007. I don’t take anything for granted and I don’t take life for granted. I don’t take my family or people I love for granted. I try to savor every minute because we really don’t know when it’s going to end for us.”

Cash is currently looking to help the Atlanta Dream win a championship this season.

Even though the Dream’s franchise-record tying six-game winning streak ended with an 85-78 loss to New York Sunday afternoon, Cash was blessed to be able to play her first game in Madison Square Garden in three years.

Atlanta (9-4 overall) will look to begin a new streak when it visits San Antonio Thursday night at the AT&T Center (8:00 p.m.).

Cash is in a different role this year for the Dream even though she recently passed Chamique Holdsclaw for 14th place in scoring in WNBA history against Minnesota on June 13.

She’s providing all the intangibles every championship team needs to be successful. Cash has scored 4,729 points, 2,288 rebounds (11th all-time in league history) in that category and has made 1,295 free-throws (seventh all-time).

“I love this game,” Cash said. “As I move forward in my career over the next few years, staying close to the game will be very important for me especially on the NBA side.

"I love what I am doing as being an analyst. That’s really fun. What people should know is that I am a fighter.

" At the end of the day maybe I wasn’t the most talented, maybe I wasn’t the best shooter, maybe I wasn’t the best rebounder, but at the end of the day, I was a winner and that’s one thing nobody can take from me.”


- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad

Guru Special Report: Women's Basketball Embraces The Big Chill

By Mel Greenberg

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley and Penn State coach Coquese Washington had ice water in their veins in their playing careers in college and at the pro level.

In the past few days they've become acclaimed for not flinching one muscle while having giant buckets of ice water tossed upon each of their respective heads.

And Staley and Washington are not alone.

Perhaps not seen outside the women's basketball community because of the shadow being cast by Soccer's World Cup in Brazil, a phenomenon of getting doused by a bucket of ice has spread across the nation significantly like a Western wildfire with similar occurences happening beyond the collegiate level into the WNBA and outside women's basketball into other sports.

The Guru says significantly because the fad started as a small undertaking at the University of Arizona for a worthy cause by Wildcats women's basketball coach and former Tennessee star Niya Butts on behalf of the Kay Yow Foundation.

In the last several days with no letup in sight one can look especially on twitter, or facebook, or several other forms of social media and see elaborate video presentations of coaches at all levels getting soaked and then calling out colleagues elsewhere to do likewise.

Players have also gotten involved.

For example, on Saturday night the Guru made a routine phone call to DePaul coach and United States National assistant coach Doug Bruno, who has been busy running his annual camp and thus queried what were all these tweet messages coming to him with challenges delivered to his account.

Less than 24 hours later on twitter was a video of Bruno sitting talking on his cell phone while a group of youngsters quietly came up behind him and let loose a torrent of ice water.

He then issued challenges to other coaches.

"I have great assistants," Butts said on the phone late Sunday night, "and they approached me with this fun idea.

"Assistant coach Calamity McEntire approached Lisa Salgado, our director of basketball operations, and me and said, "I have a great idea Coach, but you're not going to like it."

(Butts has a blog with the full play-by-play of the origin at the foundation's site Kayyow.com. On twitter you can find plenty of activity searching with the hashtag #Chillin4charity)

"But it was for fun and for a great cause and everone wants to fight cancer. We thought we would start it going within the Pac-12 and then maybe it would spread to other some other conferences," she conceded.

"Am I shocked at what has since happened? Of course initially it was shocking to see how big it has become so quick," Butts said.

"But when you think about it, maybe it is not so shocking when you realize we're one big community.

"We tried to start tracking all the activity but it became pretty overwhelming," Butts said.

"I missed that Nancy Lieberman accepted the challenge and then passed it on to others."

The folks at the foundation, however, have been hard at work keeping track, but the Guru will get to them further down in this report.

The rules of the challenge are as follows -- if a challenged individual accepts getting doused, the act must occur within 48 hours and then the challenger donates $50 to the foundation.

"If the challengee does not take the challenge, that person must pay up $250 to the foundation.

"If a person gets challenged several times, they only have to complete it once and all the challengers have to pay up.

"There is a lower rate for assistant coaches but payments involving students and student athletes involve donating community service."

Since arriving at Arizona, Butts has gotten her players involved in community endeavors and has taught there that the court action is just one small part of the deal of being a Arizona Wildcat.

Her motto attached to her program is "More Than a Game: Inspire, Develop, Transform."

The Kay Yow Foundation, located in Carey, N.C., near Raleigh, works on raising awareness and battling the disease on behalf of the late great North Carolina State coach and multi-Hall of Famer Kay Yow, who guided the United States to the Olynmpic gold medal and later succumbed to breast cancer after a lengthy and courageous battle.

Locally, Saint Joseph's coaches have already put out two videos -- one with assistants getting drenched and then one individually of coach Cindy Griffin.

Princeton coach Courtney Banghart is taking her challenge Monday at her camp.

We have seen videos of completed actions or notices of acceptance or reports of such challenges made involving Rutgers, Drexel, Penn, Villanova (Bruno challenged all the Big East coaches), Temple, Lafayette, Lehigh, and Rider to name a few.

Some of the videos have been mini-productions with opening shots of notable campus scenes, shots of the water being prepared, and then the event taking place in front of some key building or athletic facility.

"Hey, you know, why not?" Butts laughed. "Might as well get a little recruiting done.

"The other thing happening here is many of these people are former players or even as coaches are very competitive. They see a challege getting done at one place, they're not going to sit still and not get involved on their campus."

Sue Donohoe, the former head of women's basketball for the NCAA who now oversees the foundation, can not express enough gratitude for how this has played out.

Normally, the Play-For-Kay Games in February in-season are the central endeavor of the foundation.

"The Arizona people called us with this idea and we went back and forth a few times and finally said, 'Let's just go ahead and see how this plays out,'" she said on the phone Sunday morning.

Donohoe is also the current head of the board of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.

"Wow. It has been awesome. We'd like to put up a collage after it slows down though this doesn't look like it is going to slow down anytime soon," Donohoe said.

"Though soon the coaches are going to get busy with recruiting, it's spreading to softball and other sports," Donohoe said.

"Kay would just love this. This is the way she would like things to get done -- have fun and do it for a worthy cause," Donohoe said.

"You knew individually, you're talking about a few dollars here and there but put it all together and the total is going to be pretty special," she continued.

Donohoe, incidentally, has not been immune from a soaking.

"I've been challenged and the local news affiliates are coming by Monday," Donohoe said.

"I can just see Kay up there now," she referred to that great basketball facility in the sky. "She's probably in a room with Sue Gunter and Betty Jaynes and a few others having a good time watching all this.

"I bet she's classic Kay -- clapping her hand and stomping her foot when someone gets wet."

Over the weekend WNBA Seattle coach Brian Agler and star Sue Bird were among people needing a wet suit. Storm beat writer Jayda Evans reportedly also got pulled into the mix and issued some challenges.

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma has been challenged.

Expect the Associated Press to be quickly on the case with coverage via national women's writer Doug Feinberg while David Siegal expects to air a podcast this week with notables involved.

Lots more posts to come this week with some catching up from the WBHOF inductions and other key news items.

-- Mel













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WNBA Report: Pondexter's Big Day Stops Streaks on Atlanta and Her Liberty

By Rob Knox
@knoxrob1

NEW YORK – The New York Liberty started a critical five-game homestand by rallying for an 85-78 victory over the Atlanta Dream Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in the WNBA.

Fittingly, it was Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter, who shined brightly on the day that fans received a bobblehead with her likeness.

She led five players in double figures with 23 point on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the field. Pondexter added eight assists for the Liberty, who stopped a five-game losing streak.

Many of her assists went to former Georgetown star Sugar Rodgers (13 points), Alex Montgomery (12), Tina Charles (12) and Plenette Pierson (11).

Rodgers tied her season-high by making three 3-pointers. She drained one in each of the first three quarters.

It was a balanced effort for the Liberty, who finished with 15 assists on their 25 baskets. Also, in winning for the first time in two weeks, New York (4-10 overall) placed five players in double figures for the first time this season.

The Liberty’s strong second half performance ended Atlanta’s franchise-record tying six-game winning streak. Atlanta fell to 9-4 overall.

“I like having the ball in my hands whether it's scoring or getting my teammates involved,” Pondexter said. “Today was a dogfight. Atlanta is the No.1 team in the East and this was a good game for us to win tonight.

"This one is worth celebrating. They’re a tough team and we know that if we’re able to beat them, then we should be able to beat anybody. That’s a mindset we have to have going forward.”

Pondexter was the ultimate finisher in this game as she scored 12 points in the fourth quarter. She scored five straight points on a 3-pointer and a layup to put the Liberty ahead, 67-60 with 7 minutes, 30 seconds remaining.

Pondexter and the Liberty really got going after they fell behind, 40-29, with 2:45 remaining before halftime.

The entertaining and dominating 29-6 run they unleashed over a 10-minute stretch was the centerpiece of the Liberty’s victory. The burst featured contributions from everybody on both ends of the floor during the run that bridged the second and third quarters.

The blitz started with a Charles jumper that helped the Liberty close the first half by scoring the final nine points to trail, 40-38, at intermission. During the first eight minutes of the third quarter, the Liberty rocked the Garden and staggered the Dream by scoring 18 of the quarter’s first 25 points. Pondexter’s basket with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter gave the Liberty their first lead of the game, 44-42. New York never trailed again.

During its game-changing burst New York’s defense forced five turnovers, blocked three shots and made life miserable for Atlanta.

“We continued believing in one another,” Charles said. “We still have players who are still developing. Sugar did great and Alex came out attacking today. Everybody feeding off of one another really helped us today. We were tired of losing and we had that in the back of our minds today. We’re still at a point where we can turn our season around.”

The Liberty survived Angel McCoughtry’s first double-double of the season (33 points and 10 rebounds).

McCoughtry fell four points off of her career-high of 37 points established against Tulsa in 2011. The Dream had sliced 10 points off the Liberty’s game-high 58-46 deficit after rookie Shoni Schimmel, the former Louisville star, made a 3-pointer to make the score, 62-60, 45 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Schimmel finished with 10 points and Erika DeSouza also kept the Dream close with her 14 rebounds.

“We have to realize that we have to bring our A game every night because we’re going to get everybody’s best shot, but that’s a compliment to us,” McCoughtry said. “I think we lacked a lacked a little energy and focus today. This is a good loss for us to get back and get focused again.”

The Liberty return to action Friday night when they host Connecticut while Atlanta visits San Antonio Thursday night.




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Phila Summer League Preview I: Rosters Are Set

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- The annual Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women's Basketball Summer League will get under way Tuesday night at 7 p.m. with a series of three doubleheaders and continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the playoffs, which will conclude in mid-August.

To get things started, here are the rosters as provided by longtime commissioner David B. Kessler.

With only occasional conflicts with his WNBA schedule, the Guru will be on the scene most nights and will again chronicle the league, right here, instead of at PhilahoopsW, which remains temporarily -- a long tenporarily -- idle needing repairs.

The action again returns to Kelly Bolish Gymnasium, the home of the AAU Renegades, tasty snackbar and all, off Davisville Road down to the end of Turnpike Drive in Willow Grove Commons -- a business park -- in Horsham, Pa., which is near the Route 611 exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

In fact, the road down to the complex runs alongside the turnpike.

There will be a few other posts to come leading to Tuesday but since other unrelated items are also covered here, just look for the Summer League headline with a Roman Numeral Sequence, though the previews will have their own sequences.

The schedule will be in the next post.

The Guru is making this a stand-alone post so you can print it out and have handy to figure out what games you desire.

This year the commissioner has added the past high school affiliations to the active or past collegiate affiliations.

Since he has graduation year posted and the Guru is not going to translate, please know that collegiate freshmen are class of 2018, juniors are class of 2017, sophomores are class of 2016, and seniors class of 2015.

Those who may be exceptions due to redshirt situations will be adjusted in identification during the Guru's coverage when made aware.

Also, D-1 players won't appear until the third or fourth game, depending on byes, as the commissioner compensated for a situation with the NCAA that will be addressed in one of the preview posts to come.

Due to the commissioner's hip surgery that will keep him sidelined early, the Guru does not know the fate of his newsletter but an attempt will be made here to keep standings, etc.

All that said, here are the rosters.

2014 ROSTERS

TEAM BLACK (AKA D2-Phila U.)

2 BRIA YOUNG, 5’5, PREP CHARTER/ PHILA U ‘16
3 KELSEY JONES, 5’5, MT. ST. JOS./ PHILA U ‘17
4 RACHEL DAY, 5’6, ARCH. WOOD/ PHILA U ‘18
5 NAJAH JACOBS, 5’6, CENTRAL/ PHILA U ‘15
10 JESS KAMINSKI, 5’8, ARCH WOOD/ PHILA U ‘18
15 VICTORIA ARNAO, 6’, ARCH. WOOD/ PHILA. U ‘15
22 ERIN MAHER, 6’, NORTH PENN/ PHILA U ‘18
23 MONICA SCHACKER, 5’6, GERMANTOWN ACAD/ PHILA U. ‘15
24 MARY NEWELL, 6’, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE/ PHILA. U ‘16
25 JACQUELINE McCARRON, 5’11, LANSDALE CATHOLIC/ PHILA U. ‘16
30 ALEXANDRA HECK, 5’10, ARCH WOOD/ PHILA. U ‘16
32 REGAN MARRINER, 5’11, MERION MERCY ACAD/ PHILA U. ‘17
44 ERIN RAFTER, 6’, WASHINGTON TWSHP/ PHILA U ‘18

TEAM GOLD

4 SHIRA NEWMAN, 5’7, UPPER DUBLIN/ MILLERSVILLE ‘13
5 ELIZABETH JORDAN, 5’10, HONONEGAH HS/ LEHIGH ‘16
10 LAUREN CRISLER, 6’2, NORTH PENN/ AMERICAN ‘17
11 TAYLOR CAMPBELL, 5’8, MARQUETTE HS/ LEHIGH ‘18
12 LEXI MARTINS, 6’1, IRVINGTON HS/ LEHIGH ‘17
14 ASHLEY WOOD, 5’6, SPRING-FORD/ KUTZTOWN ‘14
15 JASMINE ELUM, 5’6, BODINE/ BETHUNE-COOKMAN ‘12
20 MEGHAN GIBSON, 5’9, ARCH RYAN/ HOLY FAMILY ‘11
21 NINA BRASCETTA, 5’5, ARCH RYAN/ PHILA U. ‘10
22 ALEX SMITH, 5’8, PEDDIE SCHOOL/ HOLY CROSS ‘14
24 DARBY FESTA 5’10, CHERRY HILL EAST/ HAVERFORD ‘17
32 PALLAVI JUNEJA, 5’5, PEDDIE SCHOOL/ HAVERFORD ‘15
40 STEPHANIE LEON, 6’4, U. DEL ‘17
COACH: KEITH WOODS

TEAM HUNTER GREEN

1 TAYLOR WALKER, 5’4, DELSEA REGIONAL/ HOLY FAMILY ‘18
2 YASMIN WALKER, 5’6, CARAVEL ACAD/ HOLY FAMILY ‘17
3 SIMONE JACQUES, 5’7, PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH/ NYU ‘17
4 NATASHA CLOUD, 5’11, CARD. O’HARA/ ST JOS. ‘15
10 SARAH SHERMAN, 5’7, METHACTON/ JUNIATA COLL. ‘17
11 ERIN FENNINGHAM, 5’8, ST. BASIL/ HOLY FAMILY ‘16
14 ERIN MARTIN, 5’9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH/ INDIANA U.-PA. ‘16
30 SARAH VEILLEUX, 6’, RHAM HS/ ST. JOS ‘18
33 MAYA THOMAS, 5’5, PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH/ MILLERSVILLE ‘18
40 CANDACE RITA BELVEDERE, 6’3, KELLENBERG MEM./ ST. JOS. ‘18
41 SARAH FAIRBANKS, 6’2, ELIZABETHTOWN/ ST. JOS. ‘16
50 SARAH LISTENBEE, 5’11, ABINGTON/ U. MARY WASHINGTON ‘16

TEAM KELLY GREEN

2 MACKENZIE RULE, 5’6, CARDINAL O’HARA/ ST. JOS. ‘17
3 LEXI SCRIVANO, 6’, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST/ MILLERSVILLE ‘16
4 ALEX LOUIN, 6’, MT. ST. JOS/ VILLANOVA ‘18
5 SHELBY MUELLER, 5’10, SPRING-FORD/ LYCOMING ‘18
12 MEGAN QUINN, 6’2, EPISCOPAL/ VILLANOVA ‘17
13 ALEX STAM, 5’9, CARDINAL O’HARA/ MILLERSVILLE ‘16
14 COURTNEY HINNANT, 5’9, SPRING-FORD/ MILLERSVILLE ‘17
15 BERNADETTE DEVANEY, 5’8, NOVA HS/ LEHIGH ‘18
20 CARLY MONZO, 5’11, MT. ST. JOS/ LOYOLA ‘18
21 RUTHIE ZIENTEK, 5’6, NORTHFIELD MT. HERMAN-MASS/ ST MICHAEL’S ‘14
22 ELIZABETH SHARLOW, 6’1, BISHOP GEORGE AHR/ LEHIGH ‘16
31 JULIE HAHN, 5’7, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH/ ALVERNIA ‘12
44 MAUREEN LEAHY, 6’2, CARDINAL O’HARA ‘16
COACH: TED HAGEDORN

TEAM MAROON

2 MOLLY RUBIN, 5’7, PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL/ KENYON COLL. ‘16
4 RYANN FIASCKI, 5’8, ARCH CARROLL/ E. STROUDSBURG ‘15
5 TAYLOR BRYANT, 5’5, UPPER DUBLIN/ U. OF PA.
11 COURTNEY BROWN, 5’7, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH/ E. STROUD. ‘17
13 DANIELLE DERR, 5’10, UPPER DUBLIN/ BLOOMSBURG ‘13
14 RACHEL FALKOWSKI, 5’9, CENT. BUCKS SOUTH/ E. STROUD. ‘17
15 MELISSA PODERIS, 5’6, VILLA JOS. MARIE/ E. STROUDSBURG ‘16
20 ELANA ROADCLOUD, 5’11, SPRINGSIDE/ URSINUS ‘16
22 SHANNON BARLOW, 6’1, NESHAMINY/ DEL VAL ‘15
24 MADDIE WALLACE, 6’2, ARCH CARROLL/ E. STROUDSBURG ‘18
40 BRITTANY WOOD, 5’11, ARCH. RYAN/ DEL VAL ‘16
50 MICHELLE BOGGS, 6’1, SPRINGSIDE/ E. STROUDSBURG ‘16

TEAM NAVY BLUE

4 KATHLEEN FITZPATRICK, 5’7, ACAD. OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR/ ST. JOS ‘17
5 DEVIN GOLD, 5’6, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH/ CALDWELL COLL. ‘15
9 AJEE MILLER, 5’5, IMHOTEP INST. CHARTER SCHOOL/ PENN STATE ABINGTON ‘18
10 CARLY KOVIN, 6’, PENNSBURY/ PENN STATE HARRISBURG ‘17
12 LAUREN GOLD, 5’6, ABINGTON FRIENDS/ SHIPPENSBURG ‘17
23 JANAIAH ELUM, 5’2, N.E.H.S./ PENN STATE ABINGTON ‘16
24 KIRA OGDEN, 5’4, CHELTENHAM/ PENN STATE ABINGTON ‘16
25 MADISON KIMBALL, 6’, JENKINTOWN/ PENN STATE ABINGTON ‘16
31 STEPHANIE KEYES, 5’9, ARCH WOOD/ PENN STATE ABINGTON ‘15
32 CHELSEA WOODS, 5’11, FREIRE CHARTER/ ST. JOS. ‘18
33 JESSICA SCHMIDT, 5’10, ABINGTON/ PENN STATE ABINGTON ‘15
34 AMANDA FIORAVANTI, 6’1, OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL/ ST. JOS. 17

TEAM ORANGE

01 KERRY KINEK, 6’2, ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC/ LEHIGH ‘16
3 JACQUELINE O’CONNELL, 5’4, NORTHAMPTON/ WASH. COLL. ‘15
4 NATALYA LEE, 5’8, RANCOCAS VALLEY/ KUTZTOWN ‘16
10 KIERNAN McCLOSKEY, 6’1, GERMANTOWN ACAD/ LEHIGH ‘17
12 KELLY SUGALSKI, 5’7, GREAT VALLEY/ WASHINGTON COLL ‘16
13 JENNA CARROLL, 6’1, METHACTON/ WILLIAM & MARY ‘18
15 KELSEY WATSON, 5’9, METHACTON/ KUTZTOWN ‘17
20 QUINCI MANN, 5’10, ST. IGNATIUS PREP/ LEHIGH ‘18
21 ALYSSA BONENBERGER, 5’10, NORTHAMPTON/ KUTZTOWN ‘15
22 KARA BONENBERGER, 6’1, NORTHAMPTON/ U. OF PA. ‘15
24 JANA GOODMAN, 6’1, PHILMONT CHRISTIAN ACAD/ KUTZTOWN ‘18
40 BRYNNE BROUS, 5’9, PARKLAND HS/ WASHINGTON COLL ‘18
52 KATHLEEN ROCHE, 5’11, FENWICK/ U. OF PA. ‘15

TEAM PINK (AKA D2-U. of Sciences

4 MOLLY GREENBERG, 5’6, ST. BASIL ACAD/ U. SCIENCES ‘18
5 KAITLYN SCHMID, 5’2, HOWELL HS/ U SCIENCES ‘15
10 JESSICA SYLVESTER, 5’7, U. SCIENCES ‘17
12 COLLEEN WALSH, 5’10, SHIPLEY SCHOOL/ U SCIENCES
14 AMBER REILEY, 5’8, HIGH POINT REGIONAL/ U SCIENCES ‘16
15 KELLY OTCHET, 5’9, ST. PETER’S HS FOR GIRLS/ U SCIENCES ‘17
22 LAURA TRISCH, 5’10, ARCH WOOD/ U SCIENCES ‘18
23 NATALIE STELLA, 5’9, WILMINGTON CHRISTIAN/ U SCIENCES ‘18
24 SARAH ABBONIZIO, 5’9, EPISCOPAL ACAD/ U SCIENCES ‘20
25 BRIANNE TRAUB, 5’8, EASTERN CHRISTIAN/ U SCIENCES ‘17
32 ISABELLA ROSS, 5’10, CENTRAL HS/ U SCIENCES ‘17
33 SHANNON EVANS, 5’10, JACKSON MEMORIAL/ U SCIENCES ‘16
45 CAITLIN CONROY, 6’4, RED BANK CATHOLIC/ U SCIENCES ‘18
COACH: RICK SCHMID

TEAM PURPLE (AKA Mostly D3 Scranton)

3 LINDSAY FLUEHR, 5’6, NAZARETH ACAD/ SCRANTON ‘15
4 JULIANNE LAMBERT, 5’8, PADUA ACAD/ YORK COLL OF PA. ‘16
5 ALEXANDRA McGIVERN, 5’6, NOTRE DAME/ SCRANTON ‘17
11 LIA DiSCIASCIO, 5’9, CARDINAL O’HARA/ SCRANTON ‘15
13 FAITH DeVLIEGER, 5’7, AGNES IRWIN/ SCRANTON ‘17
21 NOELLE ALICEA, 5’7, DOWNINGTOWN EAST/ SCRANTON ‘16
22 JACLYN GANTZ, 5’8, HAVERFORD/ SCRANTON ‘16
24 SAMANTHA STIPA, 5’5, SPRING-FORD/ LAFAYETTE ‘18
25 LINDSEY KELLY 6’ CENT. BUCKS EAST/ NAZARETH COLLEGE ‘16
40 COURTNEY WEBSTER, 6’2, CENT. BUCKS EAST/ LeMOYNE COLL ‘18
54 SARAH PAYONK, 6’, SPRING-FORD/ SCRANTON ‘17

TEAM RED

1 LAUREN ROTHFELD, 5’9, UPPER DUBLIN/ SALISBURY ‘17
3 TUGA GOFF, 5’4, UPPER DUBLIN/ ROSEMONT ‘17
12 BRIANNA SPECTOR, 6’, UPPER DUBLIN/ ONEONTA STATE ‘17
13 KAITLIN KELLY, 5’7, PENNSBURY/ DeSALES ‘18
21 CALYPSO CARTY, 5’8, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST/ UTICA COLL. ‘17
22 EMILY GRATCH 6’1, HUN SCHOOL/ LEHIGH ‘12
23 SARAH O’HARA, 5’7, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST/ WILKES U. ‘18
24 EMILY KIERSNOWSKI, 5’6, ARCH WOOD/ DeSALES ‘18
25 EMILY DeANGELIS, 5’10, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH/ WILKES ‘18
30 KATELYN McLAUGHLIN, 5’7, CENT. BUCKS WEST/ PSU WILKES-BARRE ‘17
34 COURTNEY McMANUS, 5’8, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST/ SALISBURY ‘15
35 JOSEPHINE NOONAN, 6’2, PALISADES/ SALISBURY ‘18
40 CATEY McFADDEN, 5’11, ARCH WOOD/ WILKES U. ‘18

TEAM ROYAL BLUE

3 CIARA ANDREWS, 5’7, CHELTENHAM/ ST. JOS. ‘16
11 SYDNEY DARBY, 5’9, WALL HS/ STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECH. ‘18
12 SARAH BROPHY, 5’7, BRIDGEWATER RARITAN HS/ HOBART & WILLIAM SMITH COLL. ‘18
14 SARAH GRIFFIN, 5’3, HALLAHAN
15 HANNAH BROPHY 5’11 BRIDGEWATER RARITAN/ STEVENS ‘17
20 DAPHNE GINN, 5’6, STEVENS ‘17
21 AVERY MARZ 5’7 WILSON HS/ ST JOS. ‘18
22 JESSICA PONGONIS, 6’1, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN/ ST. JOS ‘17
24 ERICA GUKETLOV, 5’5, BISHOP GEORGE HS/ STEVENS ‘17
25 EMILY O’DONNELL, 6’1, WM TENNENT/ ALBRIGHT ‘16
31 MEGAN PETUSKEY, 5’11, SACRED HEART HS/ STEVENS ‘16
33 ADASHIA FRANKLYN, 6’1, RUSTIN H.S./ ST. JOS. ‘18
40 ELIZABETH McBRIDE, 5’4, NAZARETH ACAD/ IMMACULATA ‘16

TEAM SKY BLUE

4 MARY ELLEN McCOLLUM, 5’8, ST. BASIL/ HOLY FAMILY ‘14
12 TIERRA SCOTT, 6’1, APPOQUINIMINK/ BLOOMFIELD ‘16
14 JENNA SWOPE, 5’9, ARCH WOOD/ GETTYSBURG ‘15
20 BRITTANY KEYES, 5’8, ARCH WOOD/ GETTYSBURG ‘18
21 MEGAN GALLAGHER, 5’7, ST. BASIL/ DeSALES ‘14
22 KAYLA BURTON, 5’7, NEWTEN SOUTH HS/ LEHIGH ‘17
24 ALYSSA ISLER, 5’5, NEW HOPE- SOLEBURY/ GETTYSBURG ‘14
25 CHRISTINE VERRELLE, 5’8, ARCH WOOD/ DOWLING COLLEGE ‘15
32 CAROLYNE HESTON, 6’, VILLA JOS. MARIE/ HOLY FAMILY ‘14
34 STEPHANIE SCHULTZ, 6’1, HILL SCHOOL/ COLGATE ‘15
35 AMINA AFFINI, 5’11, WILMINGTON HS/ LEHIGH ‘16
43 MAE WILLIAMS, 6', MONARCH/ LEHIGH ‘18

TEAM WHITE (AKA D2-West Chester)

1 MARIAH POWELL, 5’11, RUSTIN HS/ WEST CHESTER ‘15
3 JASMEN CLARK, 5’4, OLEY VALLEY/ WEST CHESTER ‘16
4 ALYSHA LOFTON, 5’9, CENT. BUCKS SOUTH/ WEST CHESTER ‘18
12 EMILY TORRANCE, 5’9, HENDERSON HS/ WEST CHESTER ‘17
13 DALLAS ELY, 5’9, MONTROSE/ WEST CHESTER ‘16
14 BRANDI VALLELY, 5’7, OLEY VALLEY/ MUHLENBERG ‘18
21 BRITTANY SICINSKI, 5’10, DOWNINGTOWN WEST/ W. CHESTER ‘16
22 VICTORIA SMICK, 5’10, WOODSTOWN HS/ WEST CHESTER ‘17
23 MARIAH TRAYWICK, 6’1, SPRING-FORD/ WEST CHESTER ‘16
32 BROOKE MULLEN, 5’9, BOYERTOWN/ WEST CHESTER ‘17
33 KENDALL BENOVY, 5’11, HERSHEY HS/ WEST CHESTER ‘15

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WNBA Report: Hartley Quickly Making Adjustment To The Pros With Washington

By Rob Knox
@knoxrob 1

WASHINGTON – Eleven games into her WNBA career, Mystics rookie guard Bria Hartley is providing the kind of change that everyone believes in.

Already, Hartley has made SportsCenter’s Top 10 following a wicked behind the back crossover and drive to the basket move against the Indiana Fever, earned her way into the Mystics starting lineup and gained the respect of several prominent veterans, who believe she will be a special player by the time her career is finished.

“For the first week that she was here, I was like wow,” Mystic guard Kara Lawson said. “She has a chance to be an elite guard in this league very quickly. I don’t want to put a year on it because that’s added pressure. She’s a complete player and she’s only going to get better from here. She can do everything.”

Added Phoenix Mercury guard and former UConn standout Diana Taurasi, who told the Hartford Courant recently: “Once Bria figures it out, once she starts knocking down shots, she has the kind of skill package that no one else does and there is no reason why she shouldn't have a long career.”

Hartley has thrilled home crowds at the Verizon Center so far this season.

She led the Mystics with 13 points in a tough 75-67 setback to the Atlanta Dream Sunday afternoon. It was the first time in her fledgling pro career that Hartley has reached double figures in consecutive games.

She also tallied 13 points in a win over the Chicago Sky last Friday night. In her last two games, Hartley has been efficient as she’s shooting 11-for-21 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point distance.

Hartley, who is fifth among rookies in scoring with a 9.4 point per game average, will take her show on the road where Washington will play nine of its next 12 games beginning with a high noon showdown Wednesday in Atlanta.

With the Mystics sitting at 5-6 overall in a congested Eastern conference, this upcoming stretch of games will be critical for a young team featuring seven players in either their first or second years in the league.

However, with Hartley leading the way and gaining confidence each time she takes the floor, the Mystics will be fine.

Hartley plays with a maturity and ferocity rarely seen in 21-year olds at this level. Of course, playing at UConn prepared Hartley for playing professionally as she dealt with Beyonce-like treatment and performed in sold out arenas on a regular basis, including helping the Huskies participate in four consecutive Final Fours.

Hartley brought impressive credentials to the nation’s capital. In helping UConn to an amazing 144-11 record during her collegiate career, Hartley finished as the third player in UConn history to reach at least 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals.

“She’s improving each day and in practice,” Mystics guard Ivory Latta said. “She’s doing a great job out there. Coach (Mike Thibault) is giving her the time to go out there and learn and she’s doing a great job for sure. She’s poised during practice and goes at a pace that we need and she’s maturing already and that’s a great thing.”

Hartley’s breakout performance was a career high 20-point outing during a thrilling triple overtime victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 1.

A magician with the ball in her hands, Hartley is faster than speeding traffic on the Cross-Bronx Expressway.

When she’s on, her short pull-up jumper from the elbow is a thing of beauty. More impressive is that Hartley isn’t afraid to attack the rim or challenge bigger players.

“I swear every game I am getting bumped around,” Hartley said. “That’s fine though as I try to compensate for that with my quickness and hold my ground a little bit.”

A perfect example occurred during the Mystics’ fourth quarter surge against the Sky.

Hartley went strong to the basket on a fastbreak and despite getting whacked hard across her beautiful face, scored and made the ensuing foul shot.

While her scoring has increased, Hartley’s defense is also beginning to get noticed in a good way as well. There was a time when Hartley had defensive difficulties, well according to at least one well known expert in the women’s basketball world.

“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” Hartley said. “When I was a freshman at UConn, coach (Geno Auriemma) would tell me that I couldn’t guard anyone so each year I just worked at getting better at something. Then by my senior year, I was able to guard the other team’s best player and make it difficult for them.”

Hartley has received an advanced education lately in guarding the opposing team’s best players.

During a recent stretch in consecutive games, Hartley guarded Taurasi, New York’s Cappie Poindexter and Chicago’s Epiphanny Prince. She hasn’t shut them down, but she hasn’t backed down and made them earn everything.

“There’s times I’ve done well and times I haven’t done so well but you have to learn how to play against those players,” Hartley said. “They’re great and they’re going to hit tough shots but I am going to compete against them and make it tough for them. Having the help of your teammates is great.

"They help me a lot. Just watching Ivory and seeing the impact she has on the floor and what she does is inspiring to me. Kara is one of the smartest players on the floor and she talks me through stuff and instills confidence in me as well.”

With plenty of room to improve, Hartley is in the perfect situation to continue making a positive impact for Mystics.


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WNBA REPORT: Hawkins and Hartley Propel Washington Over Chicago

By Rob Knox
@knoxrob1

WASHINGTON – Officially, the deal to bring Tianna Hawkins and Bria Hartley to Washington was a trade.

In reality, the draft day transaction on April 14 was more like walking into Tiffany’s and stealing an expensive gem. In this case, two diamonds in the rough.

Hawkins and Hartley sparkled and glittered in helping the Mystics end a three-game losing streak and beat the shorthanded Chicago Sky, 79-68, Friday night in an Eastern Conference battle at Verizon Center.

The Mystics acquired Hawkins and Hartley from the Seattle Storm for Crystal Langhorne. It’s a move that’s paying immediate dividends for the Mystics, who evened their overall record to 5-5. They delivered crucial scoring, defense and energy during a decisive 10-0 fourth quarter run that gave the Mystics the separation they needed to subdue the Sky.

“We knew we had to bring a lot of energy to court when we got into the game,” Hawkins said. “We didn’t want to lose again. We had to fight the whole game and Chicago was right there with us. We did a much better job on defense in the fourth quarter and everybody did a great job of focusing.”

Hawkins is getting an opportunity to shine in the shadow of the University of Maryland, where she starred for the Terrapins from 2009-13. She’s thankful to be in the league and play anywhere, but there’s something special about playing for your hometown squad.

“I was ecstatic when I learned that I was traded here because it meant I was coming back home,” Hawkins said. “The hardest part of being traded is I still have to prove myself because I am playing for a new coach and with new teammates. My solution to that is to come in here everyday and work hard.”

Though the fans in attendance were happy with receiving a free refillable Dunkin Donuts coffee mug, they were really excited with the performances of the Mystics especially in the final quarter when they outscored Chicago, 25-15. The Sky had more turnovers (six) than field goals (five) in the fourth quarter.

Hartley and Hawkins combined for eight points during a three-minute burst of brilliance early in the fourth quarter. That effort helped the Mystics construct a 64-55 bulge with 7:00 remaining that they were able to ride to the finish line.

“I was happy with our defense in the fourth quarter,” Hartley said. “We concentrated on limiting Allie Quigley’s touches because she hurt us in the first half and making it hard for Epiphanny Prince to see the floor. We wanted to go out there and pressure them a lot so that we could get out into transition. I was more excited when I got traded here because it was a chance to stay on the East Coast.”

The Mystics got a balanced scoring effort to get back in the win column.

Emma Meesseman led the way with her first career double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds, five steals). She has scored in double figures in two straight games for Washington. Hartley added 13 points along with her usual variety of crowd-pleasing moves and lockdown defense.

Hawkins hustled and bustled her way to 10 points. Two of her baskets ended quarters and gave Washington a 14-12 lead after the first period and a slim 54-53 edge entering the final frame.

Directing the Mystics show was Kara Lawson, who finished with a career-high 10 assists and eight points. She drilled a dagger 3-pointer from in front of the Sky’s bench with under three minutes remaining that gave the Mystics a 74-63 edge.

Stefanie Dolson sprang off the bench to add eight points for the Mystics.

“Getting a win tonight was huge for us,” Lawson said. “One of the things that’s so tough in this league is how even the talent is in this league. One of the things you can’t do in this league is lose your confidence as an individual and as a team. We might be one of the youngest teams in the league so for us it’s a balance of trying to win games but also trying to learn how to be a playoff-type team. That’s what we’re doing. We’ve had some peaks and valleys so far, but tonight we got good contributions from our young players. They changed what we were doing defensively in the fourth quarter. They’re a big part of what we do.”

Hartley, Meesseman, Dolson, Hawkins and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, who had five assists, are part of the Mystics youth movement.

Seven players are in their first or second year in the league, which is awesome for future success and sometimes frustrating in the present.

Veterans Monique Curry and Kia Vaughn had seven rebounds each. After playing four games in six days, the Mystics took advantage of the two days off to refine a few things. The practice showed as the Mystics finished with 24 assists on their 33 baskets.

“We didn’t get a chance to practice because we had so many games in a short period,” Lawson said. “It was like play, prepare for an opponent, play and so on. We had two days of practice and we worked on ball movement. Assists are indicative of how we are playing as a team and moving the ball. We also made some shots in the fourth quarter.”

The Sky played without reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Elena Delle Donne, the WNBA's second-leading scorer, for the second straight game. She remained in Chicago while receiving treatment for a reoccurrence of Lyme disease. The Sky have played without center Sylvia Fowles (hip) all season and were also missing Jessica Breland (right shin).

The Sky led twice in the second half, each time by one point. The Sky’s final lead was 55-54 following a Tamera Young jumper 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. Quigley scored a career-high 18 points and Prince had 17 for the Sky (5-5), who lost their fourth straight game. Chicago shot 38.2 percent from the field against the WNBA's top defense. It was the fifth time this season that the Mystics have held an opponent below 40 percent shooting.

Washington finishes its three-game homestand Sunday afternoon when it hosts Atlanta at 4:00 p.m. Chicago returns to action Wednesday night when it hosts New York. The Sky are hopeful to have Delle Donne back in the lineup.

“It's just hard to tell right now,” Sky coach Pokey Chatman told the Associated Press concerning Delle Donne’s return. “We'll re-evaluate on Monday.”

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