The Guru’s Philly Summer League Report: Aquatic / D2-Holy Family Stays Unbeaten Nears Top Playoff Seed

 By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Aquatic (D2-Holy Family) stayed unbeaten at 6-0 Wednesday night and alone in first in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League, winning easily 70-47 over Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom + D3-Scranton) at Plymouth Whitemarsh High and can clinch the top seed Tuesday with two games left by beating Electric Green (D3 Gwynedd Mercy) in the 6:30 p.m. contest on Court 2.

With BlackStar (D2-Jefferson) serving the nightly bye in the nine-team league, Aquatic increased its lead over its winter rival in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference to a game from half-game and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Should Aquatic lose, they remain in the driver’s seat and would need to beat Jade (D3-Arcadia) on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. on Court 1 when the regular eight-game schedule concludes.

BlackStar (5-1) plays Citrine Orange (D3-Ursinus Alums plus Rowan undergrads) Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. on Court 2 and finishes Wednesday playing Electric Green (4-2) the same time and court as Tuesday needing to win both games and Aquatic to lose both to gain the No. 1 seed.

Electric Green with a narrow 59-55 win over Citrine Orange, which dropped to 2-4, moved into third all alone but has a rugged finish to advance further playing Aquatic Tuesday and BlackStar Wednesday.

Mathematically, though, at this hour Green is alive and can take second with a sweep and BlackStar going 0-2.

Purple Haze (D2-West Chester) beat last-place Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata) 76-55 and moved into fourth at 4-3 a half-game behind Electric Green and considering the tough week Green has could move into third beating Sunburst (D3-Ursinus) Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on Court 1 after serving its bye Tuesday night.

The other game Wednesday night was a thriller with Jade rallying from a 20-point third quarter deficit and nipping Sunburst 64-63 to break a tie with the opposition and move into seventh at 2-4, a spot that at the final standings will be the last to dodge the 8-9 playoffs opener at 6:30 p.m. on Court 1 a week from Tuesday on July 21.

Jade at 2-4 can clinch the playoff bye in Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. game against Royal Crown (1-6) on Court 1, which will be Immaculata’s final since the Mighty Macs have the last nightly bye on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s other game matches Sunburst and Electric Pink at 7:45 p.m. on Court 1.

The two top performers of the night were Aquatic’s Amy Ngo with 23 points shooting five 3-pointers in the win over Electric Pink while Caroline Foley in Suburst’s narrow one-point loss collected 20.

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

Recaps

Jade  64  Sunburst 63

Jade (Arcadia University +) rallied from a 20-point third quarter deficit to edge Sunburst (Ursinus College) in the final seconds 64-63 in the early game on court two.

Taylor Koenig led Jade with 13 points while Jocelyn Goldstein (Johns Hopkins) added 12.  Emily Wilson (Lancaster bible college) chipped in ten.

Sunburst also placed three players in double figures, led by Carolyn Foley’s 20 points (six three-point baskets).  Olivia Nardi made five three pointers for 15 points while Emma Yogis had four three point buckets and a two-pointer to finish with 14 points.

Jade trailed 52-31 with 3:20 left in the third quarter before closing out the period with a 12-2 run to pull within 11, 54-43. 

They extended the run to 20-2, scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter to pull within three 54-51.

  Jade put on a three-point show as the quarter progressed, eventually tying the score at 59-59 with just 2:21 remaining. 

Sunburst went up by four points, 63-59 on Nardi’s final three-point basket of the game as the clock ticked wound down to the final minute.

  Anastasia Bowman connected on a two-point basket and after a defensive hold, Ellie Dexter (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) connected on a three-point basket from the right side to give Jade their first lead since the opening minutes of the game, 64-63 and less than 30 seconds on the clock. 

 Sunburst got a shot off but was unable to connect as time expired.

The Ursinus  Sunburst squad, despite having only six players, had built a 20-13 lead after one quarter and a 39-29 lead at halftime.  

Sunburst then scored the first eight points of the third quarter en route to a 13-2 run over the first 6:40 of the period to take a 21-point lead before Jade started to rally.

Electric Green 59  Citrine Orange 55

Electric Green (Gwynedd Mercy University+) overcame a six-point deficit at the end of the third quarter and held off a late rally from Citrine Orange ( Rowan University/Ursinus Alums+) to earn a 59-55 win.

Nine different players scored for Green, led by Gabrielle Bowes’ (Millersville University) 13 points (three three-point baskets).  Keara McCaffrey (DeSales University) added 12 while Briana McFadden chipped in nine.

Natalie Mehl (Ursinus ’24) led Orange with 18 points (four three-pointers) while Lily Bross (Rowan) tapped in 14 points.  Grace McShane added 12 points.

Orange held a slim 27-24 lead at halftime before Green rallied with a 7-4 run to tie the game at 31-31.  Bowes had five of the seven points, including a three-ball that tied the game.  Orange countered with a 12-6 spurt to close out the third quarter with a six point advantage 43-37. 

Green opened the fourth quarter with a 10-2 spurt to take a 47-45 lead with 6:54 left in the period.  A second 10-2 run, capped by a pair of three-balls from Bowes, increased her team’s lead to 57-47 with just under thee minutes remaining. 

  Three-pointers from Bross and Mehl pulled Orange within four 57-53 and following a defensive stop Mehl sank two free throws to cut the deficit to two 47-55 with 37 seconds left.  

Green then produced a defensive stop and recovered the ball, scoring a breakaway layup as the buzzer sounded for the final points of the 59-55 win.

Aquatic Blue 70  Electric Pink 47

Aquatic Blue (Holy Family University+)  led wire-to-wire as they remained undefeated with a 70-47 win over Electric Pink (Goldey-Beacom College/Scranton+) in the late game on court one.

Amy Ngo led Aquatic with 23 points (five three-point baskets)  while Lola Ibarrondo and Dani Brusha chipped in 15 and 11 points, respectively.

The Scranton duo of Maura Gilroy and Bridget Malloy led Pink (who were playing shorthanded with just six players) with 19 and nine points, respectively.

Pink kept the game close in the opening quarter before Aquatic pulled away to lead 20-9 after one period.   Brusha and Ngo nailed three-point baskets late in the second quarter as Aquatic took a 37-25 lead at the break.

The third quarter was a defensive battle for the first six minutes as Pink held Aquatic to just six points but only managed to put two points on the board themselves as Aquatic took a 43-27 lead with 3:50 left.

  Pink followed with seven straight points to cut the lead to single digits 43-34 with 2:10 left in the period but the Aquatic offensive exploded for eight straight points to close out the quarter and take a 17-point advantage 51-34 into the final ten minutes of action.

Pink cut the lead to 14, 58-45 with 4:34 remaining in the game but that would be as close as they would get as Aquatic closed out the game on a 12-2 run for the win.

Purple Haze 76  Royal Crown 55

In the other late game, Purple Haze (West Chester University+) placed five players in double figures as they cruised to a 76-55 win over Royal Crown (Immaculata University+) on court two.

Alyssa Donahue (East Stroudsburg University) led Purple with 15 points.  Anna McTammney (West Chester ’25) and Ava Jordan (Case Western) had 14 points apiece.  Daniella McDonald (Wheaton)  and Bry Hicks (Chestnut Hill College) chipped in 13 and ten points, respectively.

Purple quickly jumped out to a double digit lead and took a 31-14 lead into the second quarter.  Donahue had eight points in the opening quarter while Jordan chipped in seven.

Only four Purple players scored in the second quarter but that was enough to expand the lead to 47-25 at halftime.  

In the second half, Royal outscored Purple, 10-8, in the third quarter but still trailed by a large deficit 55-35 heading into the final period.   The lead oscillated between 16 and 24 points in the final quarter before settling in for the 76-55 win.

Standings (Thru Tuesday, July 14)

Team         W   L   Pct. GB    PF   PA

Aquatic           6   0  1.000  — 431 279

BlackStar        5  1  .833  1.0   453 333

Electric Green 4  2 .667 2.0  279 310

Purple Haze   4  3  .571  2.5   388 332

Electric Pink  3  3   .500 3.0    360 363

Jade                     2 4  .333 4.0  372 402

Citrine Orange 2 4 .333 4.0 369 465

Sunburst          1  5  .167 4.0 404 338

Royal Crown     1  6 .142  5.5  371 473

 

Individual Scoring 20+ Points

36-Taylor Koenig, Jade (W) vs. Citrine Orange, June 17

26-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Royal Crown, June 30

25-Natalie Mehl, Citrine Orange (L) vs. Aquatic, July 7

25-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Sunburst, June 23

24-Jocelyn Goldstein, Jade (W) vs. Cintrine Orange, June 17

24-Kara Meredith, Aquatic (W) vs. Sunburst, June 30

23-Amy Ngo, Aquatic (W) vs. Electric Pink, July 8

23-Lianna Adames, Royal Crown (W) vs. Electric Green, July 7

22-Taylor Koneig, Jade (L) vs. Purple Haze, July 1

21-Emily Spratt, BlackStar (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 30

21-Bridget Malloy, Electric Pink (W) vs. Electric Green, June 16

20-Caroline Foley, Sunburst (W) vs. Jade, July 8

20-Taylor Koenig, Jade (L) vs. Electric Green, June 30

20-Emma Wagner, Royal Crown (L) vs. Citrine Orange, June 30

20-Abby Arnold, Jade (L) vs. Electric Pink, June 24

20-Gabrielle Recinto, BlackStar (W) vs. Electric Pink, June 17

 

Results and Schedule

Wednesday, July 8

Electric Green 55, Citrine Orange 55

Jade 64, Sunburst 63

Aquatic 70, Electric Pink 47

Purple Haze 76, Royal Crown 55

Bye: BlackStar

 

Tuesday, July 14

6:30 p.m.

Royal Crown (1-6) vs. Jade (2-4) Court 1

Aquatic (6-0) vs. Electric Green (4-2), Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Sunburst (1-5) vs. Electric Pink (3-3), Court 1

Citrine Orange (2-4) vs. BlackStar (5-1) Court 2

Bye: Purple Haze (4-3)

 

Tuesday, July 7

Purple Haze 53, Electric Pink 47

BlackStar 81, Sunburst 56

Royal Crown 56, Electric Green 47

Aquatic 85, Citrine Orange 66

Bye: Jade (1-4)

 

Wednesday, July 1

Aquatic 68, BlackStar 50

Electric Pink 59, Royal Crown 58

Electric Green 58, Sunburst 54

Purple Haze 72, Jade 63

Bye: Citrine Orange

 

Tuesday, June 30

Electric Green 60, Jade 57

Citrine Orange 80, Royal Crown 71

BlackStar 83, Purple Haze 68

Aquatic 75, Sunburst 44

Bye: Electric Pink

 

Wednesday, June 24 (Games J23 & J24 Rear Bldg)

Electric Green 2, Purple Haze 0, forfeit

Electric Pink 72, Jade 49

Bye: Aquatic (2-0)

 

Tuesday, June 23

Citrine Orange 81, Sunburst 72

BlackStar 84, Royal Crown 47

 

Wednesday, June 17

BlackStar 80, Electric Pink 47

Aquatic 55, Purple Haze 33

Jade 92, Citrine Orange 60

Sunburst 49, Royal Crown 45

Bye: Electric Green

 

Tuesday, June 16

Aquatic 88, Royal Crown 53

Purple Haze 86, Citrine Orange 27

BlackStar 75, Jade 47

Electric Pink 88, Electric Green 53

Bye:  Sunburst

 

Regular Season Ends

 

Wednesday, July 15

6:30 p.m.

Sunburst vs. Purple Haze, Court 1

Citrine Orange vs. Electric Pink, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Aquatic vs. Jade, Court 1

BlackStar vs. Electric Green, Court 2

Bye: Royal Crown

 

Playoffs

Tuesday, July 21

Play-in

6:30 p.m.

8 seed vs. 9 seed, Court 1

 

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, July 22

6:30 p.m.

1 seed vs. 8-9 winner, Court 1

6 seed vs. 3 seed, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

7 seed vs. 2 seed, Court 1

5 seed vs. 4 seed, Court 2

 

Semifinals

Tuesday, July 28

Court 1

6:30 p.m.

Highest Seed Survivor vs. Lowest Seed Survivor

7:45 p.m.

Remaining Survivors Meet

 

Championship

Wednesday, July 29

 

Team by Team Schedules and Results

 

Aquatic (D2-Holy Family +) 6-0

June 16 (W) 78-39 vs. Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata)

June 17 (W) 55-33 vs. Purple Haze (D2-West Chester)

June 23 Bye

June 30 (W) 75-44 vs. Sunburst (D3-Ursinus)

July 1 (W) 68-50 vs. BlackStar (D2-Jefferson)

July 7 (W) 85-66 vs.Citrine Orange (D3 Rowan + Ursinus Alums)

July 8 (W) 70-47 vs. Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom)

July 14 vs. Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy), 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. Jade (D3-Arcadia), 7:45 p.m., Court 1

 

BlackStar (D2-Jefferson+), 4-1

June 16 (W) 75-47 vs. Jade

June 17 (W) 80-47 vs. Electric Pink

June 23 (W) 84-47 vs. Royal Crown

June L 30 (W) 83-68 vs. Purple Haze

July 1 (L) 50-68 vs. Aquatic

July 7 (W) 81-56

July 8 Bye

July 14 vs. Citrine Orange, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. Electric Green, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

 

Citrine Orange (D3-Rowan Undergrads + Ursinus Alums), 2-4

June 16 (L) 27-86 vs. Purple Haze

June 17 (L) 60-92 vs. Jade

June 23 (W) 81-72 vs. Sunburst

June 30 (W) 80-71 vs. Royal Crown

July 1 Bye

July 7 (L) 66-85 vs. Aquatic

July 8 (L) 55-59 vs. Electric Green, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 14 vs. BlackStar, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. Electric Pink, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

 

Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy +) 4-2

June 16 (L) 53-88 vs. Electric Pink

June 17 Bye

June 24 (W) 2-0 vs. Purple Haze, forfeit

June 30 (W) 60-57 vs. Jade

July 1 (W) 58-54 vs. Sunburst

July 7 (L) 47-56 vs. Royal Crown

July 8 (W) 59-55 vs. Citrine Orange

July 14 vs. Aquatic, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. BlackStar, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

 

Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom +) 3-3

June 16 (W) 88-53 vs. Electric Green

June 17 (L) 47-80 vs. BlackStar

June 24 (W) 72-49 vs. Jade

June 30 Bye

July 1 (W) 59-58 Royal Crown

July 7 (L) 47-53 vs. Purple Haze

July 8 (L) 47-70 vs. Aquatic

July 14 vs. Sunburst, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 15 vs. Citrine Orange, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

 

Jade (D3-Arcadia +) 2-4

June 16 (L) 47-75 vs. BlackStar

June 17 (W) 92-60 vs. Citrine Orange

June 24 (L) 49-72 vs. Electric Pink

June 30 (L) 57-60 vs. Electric Green

July 1 (L) 63-72 vs. Purple Haze

July 7 Bye

July 8 (W) 64-63 vs. Sunburst

July 14 vs. Royal Crown, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 15 vs. Aquatic, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

 

Purple Haze (D2-West Chester +) 4-3

June 16 (W) 86-27 vs. Citrine Orange

June 17 (L) 33-55 vs. Aquatic

June 24 (L) 0-2, forfeit vs. Electric Green

June 30 (L) 68-83 vs. BlackStar

July 1 (W) 72-63 vs. Jade

July 7 (W) 53-47 vs. Electric Pink

July 8 (W) 76-55 vs. Royal Crown

July 14 Bye

July 15 vs. Sunburst, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

 

Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata +) 1-6

June 16 (L) 39-78 vs. Aquatic

June 17 (L) 45-49 va. Sunburst

June 23 (L) 47-84 vs. BlackStar

June 30 (L) 71-80 vs. Citrine Orange

July 1 (L) 58-59 vs. Electric Pink

July 7 (W) 56-47 vs. Electric Green

July 8 (L) 55-76 vs. Purple Haze

July 14 vs. Jade, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 15 Bye

 

Sunburst (D3-Ursinus +) 1-5

June 16 Bye

June 17 (W) 49-45 vs. Royal Crown

June 23 (L) 72-81 vs. Citrine Orange

June 30 (L) 44-75 vs. Aquatic

July 1 (L) 54-58 vs. Electric Green, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 7 (L) 56-81 vs. BlackStar

July 8 (L) 63-64 vs. Jade

July 14 vs. Electric Pink, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 15 vs. Purple Haze, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

 

Seed Tracker

 

Codes – AQ-Aquatic; BS-BlackStar; CO-Citrine Orange; EG-Electric Green; EP-Electric Pink; JA-Jade; PH-Purple Haze; RC-Royal Crown; SU-Sunburst

F-Outcome Thru Forfeit

 

AQ 6-0 W-RC; W-PU; Bye; W-SU; W-BS; W-CO; W-EP; vs. EG; vs. JA

BS 5-1 W-JA; W-EP; W-RC; W-PH; L-AQ; W-SU; Bye; vs; CO; vs. EG

EG 4-2 L-EP; Bye; WF- PH; W-JA; W-SU; L-RC; W- CO; vs. AQ; vs. BS

PH 4-3 W-CO; L-AQ; vs. LF-EG; L-BS; W-JA; W-EP; 4- RC; Bye; vs. SU

EP 3-3 W-EG; L-BS; W-JA; Bye; W-RC; L-PH; L-AQ; vs. SU; vs. CO

JA 2-4 L-BS; W-CO; vs. L-EP; L-EG; L-PH; Bye; W-SU; vs. RC; vs. AQ

CO 2-4 L-PH; L-JA; W-SU; W-RC; Bye; L-AQ; L-EG; vs. BS; vs. EP

SU 1-5 Bye; W-RC; L-CO; L- AQ; L-EG; L-BS; L-JA; vs. EP; vs. PH

RC 1-6 L-AQ; L-SU; L-BS; L-CO; L-EP; W-EG; L-PH; vs. JA; Bye