Philly Women's Summer League: A Golden Finish for Team Gold Topping Maroon Ahead of the Olympics

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

And Bob Heller

HORSHAM, Pa. -- After a one-year absence from finishing at the top, Gold is golden once more in the Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Certified Women's Summer League.

Coach Keith Woods' second-seeded team snapped a two-game losing streak to top-seeded Maroon, Gold took an early and went on to a 48-34 victory over the squad, alson known as Division II USciences in the winter, Thursday night at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades.

Gold was able to win on a night that hot-scoring Alex Smith was unable to attend and Saint Joseph's junior Adaisha Franklyn was held under control, though she was still able to be the leading team scorer with 11 points in front of a shared effort.

By seed, the Gold win may read as an upset but in terms of roster talent with several Division I standouts, the new and former league champs were favored each of the past several games in their meetings.

It should be noted that there are changes in color and team rosters in many parts of the overall league makeup -- 13 squads the last several seasons and 12 this summer -- but under NCAA rules Division II and Division III men's and women's programs are allowed to play intact. Gold has also been able to produce a solid frontrunning contender the last several summers.

However, a year ago, Maroon, which has grown in stature during the regular collegiate season, upset Gold in the semifinals and nine days ago on the final night of the regular season Maroon pulled a 44-43 upset to finish in a first-place tie with Gold at 9-2 and take the top seed.

In 2014 Gold won the local league title led by then-Saint Joseph's incoming senior Natasha Cloud, the Cardinal O'Hara grad who went on the following spring to become a second-round pick of the WNBA Washington Mystics. She has since earned distinction as one of the bright young talents developing in the women's pro league.

Finally being on a title team after being in the league several seasons was a sweet honor Thursday night for 2012 La Salle grad Michele McCaughern.

"She was my Kevin Love this summer," said Woods, who added McCaughern in the annual draft in May. She scored 10 points in the title game against Maroon.

Woods' comparison was to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers veteran power forward who has been linked in recent days to trade rumors that would see him land on the 76ers.

As for how the game here went Thursday night, McCaughern's steady play helped offset the off-night of Franklyn caused by a tenacious defense from Maroon.

 

A former La Salle captain who played four years for the Explorers, McCaughern was one of three Gold players in double figures besides Franklyn (Bayard Rustin HS) and Nia Holland (10 points), the Shipley School graduate who is a sophomore at Lafayette under Women's Basketball Hall of Fame coach Theresa Grentz. 

 

Sophomore Alyx McKiernan (Immaculate Heart Academy) led the Maroon squad with  eight points, which included two three point fields goals while freshman Maddie Ritsick (Crestwood HS) added six points on two three-point field goals.

 

The normally offensive-minded Team Gold turned in a strong defensive game on this night, causing many forced shots and misses from Team Maroon, holding them to their lowest offensive output of the season. Coincidentally, the point totals by Gold and Maroon in the two times they faced each other in 2016 were each team’s two lowest offensive productions totals of the season.

 

McCaughern keyed a 10-0 run by Gold at the end of the first quarter to turn a three-point deficit into a seven point lead by quarter’s end, scoring both the first and last baskets of the run.  

In the second quarter, junior Molly Greenberg’s (St. Basil Academy) layup brought Maroon back within four at 17-13.  

Gold then ran off seven points in the final five minutes to close out the half with a 24-13 lead.  Gold’s run also included a 2:31 stretch where neither team put any points on the board.  The two teams combined for just five total field goals in the second quarter.

 

The two teams exchanged baskets for much of the third quarter as the lead oscillated between nine and 11 points  over the first seven minutes of the period.  

McCaughern’s baseline jumper with 3:00 left followed by a fast break layup from Mia Hopkins 28 seconds later pushed the Gold lead to 14 at 35-21.  

Layups from Greenberg and junior Laura Trisch (Archbishop Wood HS) in the final two minutes cut the deficit back to where it was at the start of the period, 11 points, 37-26.

 

McKiernan’s triple to open the fourth quarter would trim the Gold lead to eight, 37-29 but a 7-0 run keyed by two Franklyn layups gave Gold a 15-point lead at 44-29.  

McKiernan added another trey at the 4:16 mark to make the score 44-32 but it would be Maroon’s final points until the last 15 seconds.  

Gold connected on 4-8 free throws in the final 2:34 to seal the win.USciences junior Colleen Walsh (The Shipley School) added a layup with 14.7 seconds left to make the final score 48-34.

 

 Champion Gold Roster

1-Shira Newman (5-7), Millersville '13, Upper Dublin

2-Jazmin Horne (5-7), Saint Joseph's '17, Franklin

3-Tuga Goff (5-4), Rosemont, Upper Dublin

13-Danielle Derr (5-10), Bloomsburg '13, Upper Dublin

14-Ashley Wood (5-7), Kutztown '13, Spring-Ford

15-Nia Holland (5-7), Lafayette '19, Shipley School

22-Alex Smith (5-7), Holy Cross '14, Peddie School

23-Monica Newman (5-5), Millersville '10, Upper Dublin

33-Adaisha Franklyn (6-1), Saint Joseph's '18, Bayard Rustin

34-Mia Hopkins (5-9), Bloomsburg '17, Pittston Area High School

40-Michele McCaughern (5-11), La Salle '12

Coach: Keith Woods 

 

Final Regular Season Standings

Team,  W-L, Pct., G.B., PF, PA

^-Maroon, 9-2, .818, ---, 624 525

^@-Gold, 9-2, .818, ---, 727 533

^-Pink, 7-4, .636, 2.0, 727 616

^%-Purple, 7-4, .636, 2.0, 689 650

^-White, 6-5, .545, 3.0, 671 686

^-%-Black, 6-5, .500, 3.0, 556 578

^-Sky Blue, 5-6, .455, 4.0, 671 717

^Royal Blue, 5-6, .455, 4.0, 659 636

#-@-Hunter Green, 4-7, .364, 5.0, 546 561

#-%-Red,4-7, .364, 5.0 , 543 612

#-@-Orange, 4-7, .364, 5.0 552 634

#-Kelly Green, 0-11, .000, 9.0, 592 809

%-includes forfeit win

@-includes forfeit loss

^-Clinched playoff berth

#-Eliminated from playoffs

Playoff Schedule and Results

Quarterfinals Results

Thursday, July 28

1-Maroon (9-2)  vs. 8-Royal Blue (5-6), Court 1

3- Pink (7-4) vs. 6-Black (6-5), Court 2

2-Gold (9-2)  vs. 7-Sky Blue (5-6), Court 1

4-Purple (7-4) vs. 5-White (6-5) , Court 2

Semifinals Results

1-Maroon  59, 4-Purple 44

2-Gold  80, Pink 61

Championship Result

2-Gold 48, 1-Maroon 34

Regular Season Results

Tuesday, July 26

Black 53, Red 48

Sky Blue 59, Pink 55

White 56, Orange 38

Purple 75, Royal Blue 67

Maroon 44, Gold 43

Hunter Green 69, Kelly Green 36

Thursday, July 21

Black 65. Kelly Green 52

Pink 79, White 52

Gold 80, Orange 57

Red 51, Royal Blue 46

Maroon 55, Hunter Green 41

Purple 64. Sky Blue 60

Tuesday, July 19

Pink 90, Kelly Green 35

Gold 79, Red 51

Maroon 49, Orange 35

Hunter Green 59, Purple 33

Black 62, Sky BLue 44

Royal Blue 61, White 56

Thursday, July 14

Hunter Green 54, Red 45

Black 72, Orange 64, OT

Maroon 56, Pink 46

Gold 55, Royal Blue 51

White 59, Sky Blue 56

Purple 85, Kelly Green 78

Tuesday, July 12

Black 69, Purple 65

Orange 56, Royal Blue 48

White 66,  Kelly Green 55

Pink 62, Red 37

Maroon 60, Sky Blue 40

 Gold 62, Hunter Green 43 

Thursday, June 30

Gold 90, Kelly Green 52

White 67, Maroon 65

Red 67, Purple 65, OT

Royal Blue 69, Pink 56

Orange 69, Sky Blue 57

Black 2, Hunter Green 0, forfeit

Tuesday, June 28

Purple 90, White 81

Gold 76, Pink 59

Maroon 58, Kelly Green 47

Royal Blue 55, Black 45

Orange 67, Hunter Green 42

Sky Blue 61, Red 56

Thursday, June 23

Sky Blue 78, Royal Blue 71

Orange 71,  Kelly Green 65

Purple 2,  Gold 0, forfeit

Maroon 64, Black 41

White 67, Red 64, OT

Pink 70, Hunter Green 66, OT

Tuesday, June 21

Purple 57, Maroon 52

Royal Blue 80, Hunter Green 58

Red 69, Kelly Green 66

White 60, Black 44

Gold 89, Sky Blue 59

Pink 75, Orange 50

Thursday, June 16

Sky Blue 67, Hunter Green 66

Pink 63, Black 51

Maroon 59, Red 53, OT

Purple 88, Orange 45

Gold 90, White 63

Royal Blue 56, Kelly Green 44

Wednesday, June 15

Hunter Green 48, White 44

Sky Blue 90, Kelly Green 66

Pink 72, Purple 65

Gold 63. Black 52

Maroon 62, Royal Blue 55

Red 2, Orange 0, forfeit

Individual Scoring 20 Or More Points (including Playoffs)

46 Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Black, July 12

43-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. White, June 28

39-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Kelly Green, July 14

34-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Sky Blue, July 21

33-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Maroon, June 22

32-Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Pink, June 15

31-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. White, (Quarterfinal), July 28

31 Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Royal Blue, June 26

28-Alex Smith, Gold, W, vs. Sky Blue, June 22

28-Alex Smith, Gold, W, vs. White, June 16

27-Adaisha Franklyn, Gold, W, vs. Pink (Semifinal), Aug. 2

26-Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Red, June 30 

26-Alexix Roman, Hunter Green, L, vs. Sky Blue, June 16

25-Danielle Skedzielewski, Kelly Green, L, vs. Black, July 21

25-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Hunter Green, June 16

25-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Kelly Green, June 15

24-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Pink, July 26

24-Adaisha Franklyn, Gold, W, vs. Orange, July 21

24-Emma Dorshimer, Pink, W, vs. White, July 21

24-Alynna Williams, Black, W-OT, vs Orange, July 14. 

23-Alynna Williams, Black, L, vs. Pink, June 23

23-Kelsey Watson, White, L, vs. Gold, June 16

23-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Orange, June 16

22-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, L, vs. Gold, (Quarterfinal), July 28 

22-Lauren Rothfeld, Pink, L, vs. Sky Blue, July 26

22-Alexix Roman, Hunter Green, W, vs. Red, July 14

22-Mia Hopkins, Gold, W, vs. Sky Blue, June 22

21-Adaisha Franklyn, Gold, W, vs. Sky Blue, (Quarterfinal). July 28

21-Adaisha Franklyn, Gold, W, vs. White, June 16, 

21-Sierra Taylor, White, L, vs. Purple, (Quarterfinal), July 28

21-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, L, vs. Orange, June 30

21-Lauren Rothfeld, Pink, L, Royal Blue, June 30

21-Tori Smick, Red, L, vs. Sky Blue, June 28

21-Julia Glantz, Hunter Green, W, vs. White, June 15

21-Jessica Gerber, Sky Blue, W, vs. Kelly Green, June 15

21-K.T. (Katie) Armstrong, Royal Blue, L, vs. Maroon, June 15

20-Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Maroon (Semifinal), Aug. 2

20-Michele McCaughern, Gold, W, vs. Red, July 19

20- Emma Dorsheimer, Pink, W, vs. Kelly Green, July 19

20-Taylor Thames, White, W, vs. Maroon, June 30

20-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Royal Blue, June 23

20-Lauren Rothfeld, Pink, W-OT, vs. Hunter Green, June 23

20-Mackenzie Rule, Orange, L, vs. vs. Pink, June 22

20-Micah Morgan, Maroon, W-OT, vs. Red, June 16

Seed Tracker (In order)

^-Maroon (9-2) vs. RB (W), vs. Red (W-OT), vs. Pur(L), vs. Bk (W), KG (W), vs. Wh (L), vs. SB(W),

vs. Pnk(W), vs. Orng(W), vs. HG(W), vs. Gold (W).

^-Gold (9-2) vs. Bk (W), vs. Wh (W), vs. SB (W), vs. Pur (L-@), vs. Pnk (W) ,vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W),

RB(W), vs. Red (W), vs. Orng(W), vs. M(L).

(Maroon wins head-to-head)

^-Pink (7-4) vs. Pur (W), vs. Bk (W), vs. Orge, (W), vs. HG (W-OT), Gold (L), vs. RB(L), vs. Rd(W),

 vs. M(L), vs. KG(W), Wh(W), vs. SB (L).

^-Purple (7-4) vs. Pk (L), vs. Org (W), vs. M(W), vs. Gd (W-%), vs. W (W) vs. Red (W-OT), vs. Bk(L), 

 vs. KG(W) vs. HG(L), vs. SB(W), vs. RB(W).

(Pink wins head-to-head)

^-White (6-5) vs. HG (L), vs. Gd (L), vs. Bk (W), vs. Red (W-OT), vs. Pur (L), vs. M (W), vs. KG(W)

 vs. SB(W), vs. RB(L), vs. Pink(L), vs. Ornge(W).  

^-Black (6-5) vs. Gd (L), vs. Pk (L), vs. Wh (L), vs. M (L), vs. RB (L), vs. HG (W-%), vs. Pur(W), vs. Or(W-OT), vs. SB(W), vs. KG(W), vs. Red (W).

(White wins head-to-head)

^-Sky Blue (5-6) vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W), vs. Gold (L), vs. RB (W), vs. Red (W), Ornge(L), vs. M(L),

  vs. Wh(L), vs. Blk(L), vs. Purple(L), vs. Pink (W).

^-Royal Blue (5-6) vs. M (L), vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W), vs, SB (L), vs. Black (W), Pnk(W), vs. Orng(L), vs. Gold(L), vs. Wh(W), vs. Red (L), vs. Pur (L).

(Sky Blue wins head-to-head)

#-Hunter Green (4-7) vs. Wh (W), vs. SB (L), vs RB (L), vs. Pk (L-OT), vs. Org (L),vs. Blk (L-@) vs. Gd(L), vs. Red(W), vs. Pur(W), vs. M(L), vs. KG(W).

#-Red (4-7) vs. Org (%-W), vs. M (L-OT), vs. KG (W), vs. Wh (L-OT), vs. SB (L), Pur (W-OT), vs. Pk(L), vs. HG(L), vs. Gold(L), vs. RB(W), vs. Blk (L).

#-Orange (4-7) vs. Red (@-L), vs. Pur (L), vs. Pnk (L), vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W), vs. SB (W), vs. RB(W),

 vs Bk (L-OT), M(L), vs. Gold (L), vs. Wh(L).

(All 1-1 against each other. Hunter wins tiebreak 2, best win: Purple, then Red takes next off head-to-head win over Orange)

#-Kelly Green (0-10) vs. SB (L), vs. RB (L), vs Red (L), vs. Orange (L), vs. M(L), vs. Gold (L), vs. Wh(L), vs. Pur(L) vs. Pnk(L),vs. Blk(L), vs. HG(L).

%-forfeit win

@-forfeit loss

^-Clinched playoff berth

#-Eliminated from playoffs