The Guru Philly Summer League Report: Defending Champs Cyber Pink Clinch Top Seed While Four Others Earn Byes to the Quarterfinals With Two Nights Left

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

HATBORO, Pa. — Defending champion Cyber Pink, also known as an alumni-dominated group from the former D-2 USciences, pulled away down the stretch to a 56-40 victory over the draft team Orange Citrus Tuesday night to stay unbeaten at 7-0 and clinch the top playoff seed in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Summer Basketball League at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades.

The four draft teams among the ten squads are those that don’t have rosters dominated by the D2 and D3 teams in the league who compete in the winter in NCAA competition.

The loss ended a hot four-game streak by Orange Citrus (4-3) as action resumed after the league was idle last week for the July 4th holiday.

Cyber Pink has a two-game lead over the three teams right behind in the standings, but the group has beaten all three to hold all the tiebreakers if any occur when the regular season concludes next Tuesday night.

Five teams earned first-round byes into the quarterfinals while Maroon (D3-Arcadia) could move up and steal its way by Orange Citrus losing to Lime Citrus on Thursday and Maroon beating Royal Blue which would set up a head-to-head showdown next Tuesday between those two teams.

The four other games shuffled the ties with now a reduced three-game jam behind the front runners followed by ties for fifth and seventh.

But if the season ended right now in the current standings for the first time this season all the slots through tiebreakers would be set instead of any in alphabetical placement.

Black (5-2), also known as D2-Jefferson, has soared to second after a 77-61 win over Red Fire (2-5), its D2-Chestnut Hill winter rival in the Southern Division 2 rival in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).

The winners have now gained three-straight triumphs.

Lime Citrus (5-2) stayed in the three-way deadlock with a 71-60 win over Royal Blue (1-6), another CACC Southern Division entry out of Goldey-Beacom making its unit-league debut this summer.

Purple Haze (5-2), also stayed in the runnerup tie-up, as the D2 West Chester squad beat Maroon 67-54.

The other game saw Sky Blue (4-3), aa D2 CACC Southern Division entry from Holy Family, cruise to an 85-29 win over Sunburst (0-7), which has yet to win a game but recently had been in the hunt twice to the end before coming up short.

Two players, both in the same game, hit the 20-point citation with Lime Citrus’ Leah Johnson scoring 22 for the winners while Royal Blue’s Rory Ciszkowski scored 24.

Setting the Seeds

In the three-way second-place tie, the first breaker is records against each other and Black is 1-0 with the win over Lime Citrus, ahead of finishing with Purple Haze next Tuesday.

Lime Citrus is 1-1 losing to Black but beating Purple Haze, which falls to fourth at 0-1.

Orange Citrus had a head-to-head win for fifth over Sky Blue, which is then sixth.

Tied for seventh, Maroon has a head-to-head win over Red Fire.

Royal Blue is alone in ninth, with Sunburst completing the standings.

Looking Ahead

The lineup on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. has Cyber Pink (7-0) meeting Sky Blue (4-3) on Court 1 while Red Fire (2-5) meets Purple Haze (5-2) on Court 2.

In the nightcaps at 7:45 p.m., Suburst (0-7) meets Black (5-2) on Court 1, while Maroon (2-5) meets Royal Blue (2-6) on Court 2, and Lime Citrus (5-2) plays Orange Citrus (4-3) on Court 3.

Now here’s Bob with the details followed by the scoreboard.

Recaps

Cyber Pink 56 Orange Citrus 40

Defending league champions Cyber Pink (alumni players) clinched the top seed for the upcoming Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer league playoffs, earning a hard-fought 56-40 win over Orange Citrus (draft team) to remain undefeated at 7-0 on the season.

Orange falls to 4-3 with just two games left in the regular season. 

Pink remains two games ahead of both Lime Citrus and Purple Haze with both teams sporting 5-2 records after tonight’s action. Pink defeated both teams earlier in the season.

Rylee Derr (Kutztown ’22) led all players with 16 points. Lexie Edwards (Cabrini ‘21) added ten points.

Nicole Timko (Carnegie Mellon ’26) led Orange with 13 points.  Arielle LePage (Wellesley ’28) added ten points.

The game itself was not completely decided until the fourth quarter as Orange shaved a double-digit lead held by Pink heading into the period to eight points, 46-38. 

Pink produced a 10-2 run in the final three minutes to pull away with the win.

Edwards started the run with short jumper before closing out the game with eight straight free throws, six from Derr and another pair from Shannon May (USciences ’21).

Pink jumped out to an early nine-point lead only to have Orange score the final seven points of the first quarter and first three of the second for a 10-0 run to take a 12-11 lead.

That advntage changed hands three more times with Pink following with a9-1 run to lead by seven as the second quarter wound down.

Leading by six at the half, Pink quickly built the lead up to double digits, scoring the final five points of the third quarter, all from free throws to lead 39-27.

Baskets from Derr and Cassie Spratt (Chestnut Hill ’22) to open the fourth quarter increased the lead to 16 points before Orange went on an 11-3 run to pull within singles digits before Pink pulled away at the end.

Lime Citrus 71 Royal Blue 60

Lime Citrus (draft team) kept pace with Cyber Pink, pulling away in the second quarter to earn a 71-60 win over Royal Blue (Goldey-Beacom College) in the early game on court one.

Lime improves to 5-2 while Royal fell to 1-6 on the season.

Two players reached the 20-point plateau on the night with Leah Johnson (West Chester ’24) leading the victors with 22 points while Rory Ciszkowski scored 24 for Royal.

Ciszkowski was playing in her first game of the 2024 summer league season, missing the first six while recovering from an injury. Annie Aspesi (Tufts ’26) added 19 for Lime while Madelynn Bernhardt and Angelina Zagone added 12 points apiece.

Royal jumped out to a 21-9 lead late in the first quarter and still led by ten, 28-18 in the second quarter when Lime exploded with 12 straight points to take a 30-28 lead, the fourth lead change of the game.

A Ciszkowski three-ball put Royal back up by one 31-30 before Johnson started an 11-2 run with a three-pointer, giving Lime the lead again as her team pulled ahead 42-33 at the break.

Lime added two more points to their lead in the third quarter to go up by double digits. Royal twice cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter before Lime closed out the game with a 7-2 run for the 11-point win.

Black 77 Red Fire 61

In a battle between two Division II winter rivals Black (Jefferson University) took control of the contest early and cruised to a 77-61 win over Red Fire (Chestnut Hill College).

Black improves to 5-2 with the win and sits in a tie for second and holds the second seed for now while Red falls to 2-5 and is tied for seventh place with Maroon.

Sam Yencha and Emily Spratt led Black with 16 and 13 points, respectively.  Bridie McCann scored 12 points to pace Red. Siobhan Boylan and Tikiya Miller added 11 points apiece.

Black led the game wire-to-wire, jumping out to an 8-2 lead and increasing it to double digits before Red clawed their way back with six straight points to close out the opening quarter, trailing 20-15. 

Six straight points from Black to open the second quarter again returned the lead by double digits as they expanded their lead to as many as 16, at 42-26. Red shaved three points off the lead and trailed 44-31 at halftime.

Red battled back in the third quarter, closing the gap to eight, 54-46 following an Avery White layup. Black closed the third quarter on a 9-2 run to lead 63-48 and expanded the run to 13-2 with the first two scores of the fourth quarter, producing their largest lead of the game 67-48.

McCann had eight of her 12 points in the final period but could only come as close as 14 points as scored four of the final six points to secure a 16-point win.

Purple Haze 67 Maroon 54

Purple Haze (D-II West Chester University) earned their fifth win of the summer league season, defeating Maroon (D-III Arcadia University), 67-54 in the late game on court one Tuesday night.

Purple improved to 5-2 and remains in a tie for second place with Lime Citrus and Black. Maroon falls to 2-5 and remains in a tie for seventh place with Red Fire.

Anna McTamney led Purple with 17 points while Aaliyah Solliday chipped in 12.

Three players reached double figures for Maroon, led by Hannah Rhodes’ 18. Scarlett Glasser-Nehls added 15points and Taylor Koenig chipped in 11.

The two teams exchanged the lead four times in the opening quarter with Maroon holding a slim 23-22 lead after one period.

Purple produced a 13-4 run to reclaim the lead and go up by eight 35-27 late in the second quarter.

Glasser-Nehls scored in the final minute to make it a two-possession game at halftime 35-29.

Purple exploded with the first 12 points of the third quarter to lead by double digits 47-29. Rachel Conran’s basket increased their lead to twenty 51-31 and completed a 16-2 run.

A traditional three-point play from Mara Weaver and Glasser-Nehls adding a three ball cut the lead to 15, 53-38.

A three-point basket from Solliday gave Purple their biggest lead at 61-38.

Marron closed out the game with an 11-3 spurt to make the final score 67-52.

Sky Blue 85 Sunburst 29

Sky Blue (D-II Holy Family) placed five players in double figures as they defeated Sunburst (draft team) 85-29 in the court three late game.

Sky Blue improves to 4-3 on the season and sits in a two-way tie for third place with Orange Citrus.   Sunburst falls to 0-7.

Jessica Riepe led all players with 17 points.  Ava Morrow added 15 while Kara Meredith chipped in 13. Claire Dougherty and Taylor Hinkle had 12 and ten points, respectively.

Katie Purpura (St. Thomas Aquinas ’28) led Sunburst with 11 points.

Sky’s defense held Sunburst to just seven first half points as they opened a 43-7 lead at halftime and extended it to 71-10 after three periods. 

Sunburst outscored Sky 19-14 in the fourth quarter with Purpura scoring all 11 of her points in the period.

Vanessa Amsinger (Swarthmore ’25), Jessica McLaughlin (Rowan’26), Shayla Johnson (Rowan ’25) and Jessica Mastriano (Rowan ’26) each scored a basket in the final quarter.

Summer Scoreboard

Standings (Thru Wed, July 10)

Team    W-L Pct. G.B.  PF   PA

*-Cyber Pink 7-0 1.000 — 490 335

Black 5-2 .714 2 482 407

Lime Citrus 5-2 .714 2 426 414

Purple Haze 5-2 .714 2 399 358

Orange Citrus 4-3 .571 3 364 425

Sky Blue 4-3 .571 3 488 362

Maroon 2-5 .286 5 423 478

Red Fire 2-5 .286 5 433 464

Royal Blue 1 6 .143 6 320 430

Sunburst 0 7 .000 7 332 484

*-clinched top seed

 

Players Scoring 20 or More Points

 

37 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Maroon, June 18

36 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (W) vs. Maroon, June 11

31 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Orange Citrus, June 13

30 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 25

29 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Red Fire, June 20

28 – Anna McTamney, Purple Haze (W) vs. Orange Citrus, June 13

26 – Hannah Rhoades, Maroon (W) vs. Sunburst, June 13

25 – Rachel Conrad, Purple Haze (W) vs. Sky Blue, June 18

24 – Rory Ciszkowski, Royal Blue (L) vs. Lime Citrus, July 9

24 – Jessica Riepe, Sky Blue (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 20

24 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L) vs. Orange Citrus, June 18

24 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L), vs. Black, June 13

22 – Leah Johnson, Lime Citrus (W), vs. Royal Blue, July 9

22 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 20

21 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 27

21 – Katelyn Becker, Sunburst (L) vs. Orange Citrus, June 27

21 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (L) vs. Black, June 27

21 – Emily Spratt, Black (W) vs. Maroon, June 25

20 – Leah Johnson, Lime Citrus (W) vs. Maroon, June 20

20 – Scarlett Glasser-Nehls, Maroon (W) vs. Sunburst, June 13

 

Results/Schedule

 

Tuesday, July 9

 

Lime Citrus 76, Royal Blue 60

Black 77, Red Fire 61

Purple Haze 67, Maroon 54

Cyber Pink 56, Orange Citrus 40

Sky Blue 85, Sunburst 29

 

Tuesday, July 2

No Games – Holiday Week

 

Thursday, July 4

No Games – Holiday Week

 

Thursday, June 27

 

Black 63, Sky Blue 62

Cyber Pink 88, Royal Blue 33

Orange Citrus 66, Sunburst 65

Lime Citrus 68, Purple Haze 53

Maroon 80, Red Fire 76

 

Tuesday, June 25

 

Lime Citrus 66, Red Fire 62 Red Fire

Royal Blue 61, Sunburst 37

Cyber Pink 74, Purple Haze 55

Orange Citrus 49, Sky Blue 43

Black 83, Maroon 57

 

Thursday, June 20

 

Purple Haze 59, Sunburst 53

Cyber Pink 72, Red Fire 58

Lime Citrus 51, Maroon 50

Sky Blue 80, Royal Blue 52

Orange 47, Black 44

 

Tuesday, June 18

 

Orange Citrus 61, Royal Blue 52

Red Fire 58, Sun Burst 49

Black 68, Lime Citrus 51

Cyber Pink 67, Maroon 44

Purple Haze 70, Sky Blue 67

 

Thursday, June 13

 

Maroon 84, Sunburst 44

Purple Haze 93, Orange Citrus 42

Black 91, Royal Blue 62

Sky Blue 61, Red Fire 45

Cyber Pink 66, Lime Citrus 48

 

Tuesday, June 11

Sky Blue (D-2 Holy Family) 90, Maroon (D-3 Arcadia) 54

Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) 67, Black (D2-Jefferson) 57

Red Fire (D-2 Chestnut Hill) 73, Orange Citrus (Draft Team-3) 59

Lime Citrus (Draft Team-2) 71, Sunburst Royal (Draft Team-4) 55

Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) 2, Royal Blue (D2 Goldey-Beacom) 0, forfeit

 

Thursday, July 11

 

6:30 p.m.

Cyber Pink (7-0) vs. Sky Blue (4-3) – Court 1

Red Fire (2-5) vs. Purple Haze (5-2) – Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Sunburst (0-7) vs. Black (5-2) – Court 1

Maroon (2-5) vs. Royal Blue (1-6) – Court 2

Lime Citrus (5-2) vs. Orange Citrus (4-3) – Court 3

 

Tuesday, July 16

(Regular Season Ends)

 

6:30 p.m.

Orange Citrus vs. Maroon – Court 1

Purple Haze vs. Black – Court 2

 

7:45 p.m.

Royal Blue vs. Red Fire – Court 1

Sky Blue vs. Lime Citrus – Court 2

Sunburst vs. Pink – Court 3

 

Playoffs

 

Thursday, July 18

 

First Round

 

Court 1

6:30 p.m.

10th Seed vs. 7th Seed

7:45 p.m.

8th Seed vs. 9th Seed

 

Tuesday, July 23

 

Quarterfinals

 

6:30 p.m.

1st seed vs. Lowest First Round Winner – Court 1

3rd Seed vs. 6th Seed

 

7:45 p.m.

2nd Seed vs. Highest First Round Winner – Court 1

4th Seed vs. Fifth Seed – Court 2

 

Thursday, July 25

 

Semifinals

Court 1

6:30 p.m.

Highest Quarterfinal Winner vs. Lowest Semifinal Winner

7:45 p.m.

Other Quarterfinal Winners

 

Tuesday, July 30

 

No Games

 

Thursday, Aug. 1

 

Championship

 

Court 1

7 p.m.

 

Semifinal Winners

 

Seed Tracker

Code – Bk: Black/D2 Jefferson; CP: Cyber Pink/Draft Team-1; LC: Lime Citrus/Draft Team-2; OC: Orange Citrus/Draft Team 3; M: Maroon/D3 Arcadia; PH: Purple Haze/D2 West Chester; RF: Red Fire/D2 Chestnut Hill; RB: Royal Blue/D2 Goldey-Beacom; SB: Sky Blue/Holy Family; SU-Sunburst/Draft Team-4

*-Cyber Pink (7-0): W-Bk; W-LC; W-M; W-RF; W-PH; W-RB; vs. W-OC; vs. SB; vs. SU

Black (5-2): L-CP; W-RB; W-LC; L-OC; W-M; W-SB; vs. W-RF; vs. SU; vs. PH

Lime Citrus (5-2): L W-SU; L-CP; L-BK; W-M; W-RF; W-PH; vs. W-RB; vs. OC; vs. SB

Purple Haze (5-2): WF-RB; W-OC; W-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; vs. W-M; vs. RF; vs. BK

Orange Citrus (4-3): L-RF; L-PH; W-RB; W-BK; W-SB; W- SU; vs. L-CP; vs. LC; vs. M

Sky Blue (4-3): W-M; W-RF; L-PH; W-RB; L-OC; L-BK; vs. W-SU; vs. CP; vs. LC

Maroon (2-4): L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; L-BK; W-RF; vs. PH; vs. RB; vs. OC

Red Fire (2-4): W-OC; L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; vs L-M; vs. BK; vs. PH; vs. RB

Royal Blue (1-4): LF-PH; vs. L-BK; vs. L-OC; L-SB; W-SU; vs. CP; vs. LC; vs. M; vs. RF

Sunburst (0-5): L-LC; L-M; L-RF; L-PH; L-RB; vs. OC; vs. SB; vs. BK; vs. CP

*-Clinched top seed

Team by Team (Thru Wed., July 10)

Black (D2 Jefferson) 5-2

Tues. June 11 vs. Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) L 57-67

Thur. June 13 vs. Royal Blue (D2 Goldey Beacom) W 91-62

Tues. June 18 vs. Lime Citrus (Draft Team-4) W 68-51

Thur. June 20 vs. Orange Citrus (Draft Team-4) L 43-47

Tues. June 25 vs. Maroon (D3 Arcadia) W 83-57

Thurs. June 27 vs. Sky Blue (D2 Holy Family) W 63-62

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Red Fire (D2 Chestnut Hill) W 77-61

Thurs. July 11 vs. Sunburst (Draft Team-4)

Tues. July 16 vs. Purple Haze (D2 West Chester)

 

Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) 7-0

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Black W 67-57

Thur. June 13 vs. Lime Citrus W 66-48

Tues. June 18 vs. Maroon W 67-44

Thur. June 20 vs. Red Fire W 72-58

Tues. June 25 vs. Purple Haze W 74-55

Thurs. June 27 vs. Royal Blue W 88-33

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Orange Citrus W 56-40

Thurs. July 11 vs. Sky Blue

Tues. July 16 vs. Sunburst

 

Lime Citrus (Draft Team-2) 5-2

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Sunburst W 71-55

Thur. June 13 vs. Cyber Pink L 48-66

Tues. June 18 vs. Black L 51-68

Thur. June 20 vs. Maroon W 51-50

Tues. June 25 vs. Red Fire W 66-62

Thurs. June 27 vs. Purple Haze W 68-53

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Royal Blue W 71-60

Thurs. July 11 vs. Orange Citrus

Tues. July 16 vs. Sky Blue

 

Orange Citrus (Draft Team-3) 4-3

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Red Fire L 59-73

Thur. June 13 vs. Purple Haze L-42-93

Tues. June 18 vs. Royal Blue W 61-52

Thur. June 20 vs. Black W 47-43

Tues. June 25 vs. Sky Blue W 49-43

Thurs. June 27 vs. Sunburst W 66-65

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Cyber Pink L 40-56

Thurs. July 11 vs. Lime Citrus

Tues. July 16 vs. Maroon

 

Maroon (D3 Arcadia) 2-5

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Sky Blue L 51-90

Thur. June 13 vs. Sunburst W 84-44

Tues. June 18 vs. Cyber Pink L 44-67

Thur. June 20 vs. Lime Citrus L 50-51

Tues. June 25 vs. Black L 57-83

Thurs. June 27 vs. Red Fire W 80-76

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Purple Haze L 54-67

Thurs. July 11 vs. Royal Blue

Tues. July 16 vs. Orange Citrus

 

Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) 5-2

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Royal Blue W 2-0 forfeit

Thur. June 13 vs. Orange Citrus W 93-42

Tues. June 18 vs. Sky Blue W 70-67

Thur. June 20 vs. Sunburst W 59-53

Tues. June 25 vs. Cyber Pink L 55-74

Thurs. June 27 vs. Lime Citrus L 53-68

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Maroon W 67-54

Thurs. July 11 vs. Red Fire

Tues. July 16 vs. Black

 

Red Fire (D2 Chestnut Hill) 2-5

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Orange Citrus W 73-59

Thur. June 13 vs. Sky Blue L 45-61

Tues. June 18 vs. Sunburst W 58-49

Thur. June 20 vs. Cyber Pink L 58-72

Tues. June 25 vs. Lime Citrus L 62-66

Thurs. June 27 vs. Maroon L 76-80

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Black L 61-77

Thurs. July 11 vs. Purple Haze

Tues. July 16 vs. Royal Blue

 

Royal Blue (D2 Goldey-Beacom) 1-6

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Purple Haze L 0-2 forfeit

Thur. June 13 vs. Black L 62-91

Tues. June 18 vs. Orange Citrus L 52-61

Thur. June 20 vs. Sky Blue L 52-80

Tues. June 25 vs. Sunburst W 61-37

Thurs. June 27 vs. Cyber Pink L 33-88

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Lime Citrus L 60-71

Thurs. July 11 vs. Maroon

Tues. July 16 vs. Red Fire

 

Sky Blue (D2 Holy Family) 4-3

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Maroon W 90-51

Thur. June 13 vs. Red Fire W 61-45

Tues. June 18 vs. Purple Haze L 67-70

Thur. June 20 vs. Royal Blue W 80-52

Tues. June 25 vs. Orange Citrus L 43-49

Thurs. June 27 vs. Black L 62-63

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Sunburst W 85-29

Thurs. July 11 vs. Cyber Pink

Tues. July 16 vs. Lime Citrus

 

Sunburst (Draft Team-4) 0-7

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Lime Citrus 55-71

Thur. June 13 vs. Maroon L 44-84

Tues. June 18 vs. Red Fire L 49-58

Thur. June 20 vs. Purple Haze L 53-59

Tues. June 25 vs. Royal Blue L 37-61

Thurs. June 27 vs. Orange Citrus L 65-66

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Sky Blue L 29-85

Thurs. July 11 vs. Black

Tues. July 16 vs. Cyber Pink