The Guru’s Philly Summer League Report: Aquatic/D2-Holy Family Stays Unbeaten While Royal/D3-Immaculata Gets First Win

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. Suddenly, the regular season of the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League at its new Plymouth Whitemarsh High venue is flying near the finish with next week’s pair of games completing the final standings and setting up the playoffs.

Aquatic / D2-Holy Family which moved into first by a half-game last week stayed unbeaten Tuesday night at 5-0 with an 85-66 win over Citrine Orange/ D3-Rowan undergrads+D3-Ursinus Alums, dropping the opposition to 2-3.

The opposition still had a highlight in the loss with Natalie Mehl making seven shots from distance and having the night’s top performance at 25 points.

BlackStar /D2-Jefferson (5-1) bounced back from losing to its winter rival to stay within a half-game in second by gaining an 81-56 win over Sunburst / D3 – Ursinus, which dropped to 1-4 in a tie with Jade / D3-Arcadia, which became the sixth of the nine-team league to serve the nightly bye.

After missing its first win on the eight-game schedule by a point last Wednesday, Royal Crown /D3 Immaculata made it to victory lane, improving to 1-5 by triumphing 56-47 over Electric Green / D3-Gwynedd Mercy (3-2) led by Lianna Adames, who fired six from deep on the way to 23 points, also making the 20+ honor roll.

The other game saw Purple Haze /D2-West Chester climb into fifth at 3-3 over Citrine Orange by winning 53-47 against Electric Pink / D3-Goldey-Beacon and Scranton.

Despite the losses, Electric Pink and Electric Green stayed tied for third, Pink holding the third seed spot for now off a head-to-head win over Green.

The bottom two teams will begin with a play-in game on July 21 at 6:30 p.m. between the 8th and 9th seed ib Court 1.

Looking Ahead

Completing this week’s pair of game nights on Wednesday has Electric Green and Citrine Orange meeting on Court 1 while Jade and Sunburst, tied in 7th, will meet on Court 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the early games, that winner gaining a small advantage to potentially avoid the play-in round.

Jade has the higher slot at the moment because beating Citrine Orange has more value.

The 7:45 p.m. games have Aquatic and Electric Pink meeting on Court 1, while Purple and Royal Crown meet on Court 2.

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

Recaps

Purple Haze 53  Electric Pink  47

Purple Haze (West Chester University +) used a solid third quarter to hold off a tenacious Electric Pink  (University of Scranton/Goldey-Beacom College +)squad, 53-47 in the early game on Court 1.

Alyssa Donahue (East Stroudsburg University) led Purple with 16 points while Erin Daley added 11.  Pink got 12 points from Maura Gilroy (University of Scranton) while Bailey Balkir (Gettysburg) and Bridget Malloy (Scranton) added 11 and ten points respectively.

Trailing by one at halftime, Purple outscored Pink 17-8 in the third quarter to take a 40-32 lead heading into the final period.  Donahue led the way with six points with Daley adding four

The Purple Haze squad pushed the lead to double digits early in the final period before Pink slowly chipped away at the lead, closing to within four in the final two minutes before Anna McTamney sank two free throws to make the final margin six points.

The opening two quarters saw six lead changes as neither team could pull away from the other as Purple held a one point lead after one period and Pink reversed that to lead 24-23 at halftime.

  Donahue had ten of her game-high 16 points in the first two quarters. Malloy scored seven and Marissa Fracione (Scranton) added six points to lead Pink in the first two quarters.

Royal Blue 56  Electric Green 47

Royal Blue (Immaculata University +) jumped out to an early lead on the strength of Lianna Adames’ three first quarter three point baskets and held onto to the advantage to earn their first win of the season 56-47 over Electric Green (Gwynedd  Mercy University +).

Adames finished the game with 23 points (six three-point baskets) while Emma Wagner added eight points. 

Green was led by Layla Verbit  and Emma O’Hare (DeSales University) with ten points apiece.

Royal jumped out to a 16-6 lead in the first six minutes of the game and led 20-12 at the end of the first quarter. 

Green, however, battled back with a 13-4 run in the first six minutes of the second half to take a 25-24 lead, capped by a long two-point basket from Azzy Crumpton and two free throws from Rachel Dunn.  

Royal closed out the quarter with five straight points to lead 29-25 at halftime.

Green pulled within two 29-27 with a pair of free throws from O’Hare in the opening minutes of the quarter but as the quarter wore on Royal added to lead with Jennifer Fox (Franklin and Marshall) scoring all five of her points in the period and Adames adding her fifth three-ball of the game as Royal took a 44-34 lead heading into the final quarter.

Adames and Fiona Reckner (Franklin and Marshall) combined for ten of Royal’s 12 fourth quarter points as Royal continued to maintain their lead, never letting it fall below six points during the quarter. 

Gabrielle Bowes (Millersville) and Brianna McFadden kept Green within range with key three-point baskets as the game went on but Royal held on for the ten-point win.

Aquatic Blue 85   Citrine Orange 66

Team Aquatic Blue ( Holy Family University +) combined for 15 three-points baskets and put four players in double figures as they remained unbeaten, cruising to an 85-66 win over Citrine Orange  (Ursinus Alums/Rowan University +)

Dani Brusha led Aquatic with 18 points (three “3’s”) while Ella Brown and Lola Ibarrondo added 16 points apiece.  Sydney Stokes chipped in ten points.  Delaney Haines (Southern Connecticut State) made three three-point baskets to finish with nine points.

Natalie Mehl (Ursinus ’24) had the highest-scoring performance of the night with 25 points, making seven three-point baskets (the most by a summer player this season).  Grace McShane (Rowan) added 16 points while Charlotte Diletto (Ursinus ’25) chipped in ten.

Aquatic jumped out to a 12-5 lead less than five minutes into the game and ending the quarter with a 16 point advantage 28-12 with Brusha and Haines each banging in two buckets from downtown. 

Brown scored nine points in the second quarter as Aquatic increased their lead to 55-36 at the half. Mehl kept Orange from falling too far behind with a 14-point effort (four 3’s) in the quarter.

Ibarrondo scored ten second half points for Aquatic as they maintained their 19-point advantage.  Including Ibarrondo, eight different Aquatic players scored in the final twenty minutes of action .

 

BlackStar 81  Sunburst 56

BlackStar (Jefferson University+) got back on the winning track, placing five players in double figures as they defeated Sunburst (Ursinus University), 81-56 in the early game on Court 2.

Gabby Recinto led BlackStar with 18 points.  Caleigh Sperling and Emily Spratt chipped in 14 points each.  Carlie Lapinski and Cassidy Krevasi added 11 and ten points respectively.

Sunburst got 13 points from Delaney McCaffrey and 11 from Anna Chimento.

  Olivia Nardi added ten points to round out Sunburst’s double figure scorers.

Spratt was off to a hot start in the first quarter scoring half of her 14 points in the period as BlackStar jumped out to a 20-13 lead heading into the second quarter.

BlackStar increased their lead as the second quarter progressed with Sperling producing ten points and Jordyn Thomas added six as BlackStar upped their advantage to 49-31 at halftime.

Recinto had eight points in the third quarter as BlackStar added to their lead, outscoring Sunburst 16-14 to take a 65-45 lead into the home stretch.

A 16-11 effort by the victors pushed the lead to 81-56 as the final buzzer sounded. 

Standings (Thru Wednesday, July 8)

Team         W   L   Pct. GB    PF   PA

Aquatic           5   0  1.000  — 361 232

BlackStar        5  1  .833  0.5   453 333

Electric Pink  3  2   .600 2.0    319 293

Electric Green 3  2 .600 2.0  220 255

Purple Haze   3  3  .500  2.5   312 277

Citrine Orange 2 3 .400 3.0 314 406

Jade               1 4  .200 4.0  308 339

Sunburst          1  4  .200 4.0 275 310

Royal Crown     1  5 .167  4.5  316 397

 

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-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-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

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 8

6:30 p.m.

Electric Green (3-2) vs. Citrine Orange (2-3), Court 1

Jade (1-4) vs. Sunburst (1-4), Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Electric Pink (3-2) vs. Aquatic (5-0), Court 1

Purple Haze (3-3) vs. Royal Crown (1-5), Court 2

Bye: BlackStar (5-1)

 

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

 

 

Tuesday, July 14

6:30 p.m.

Royal Crown vs. Jade, Court 1

Aquatic vs. Electric Green, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Sunburst vs. Electric Pink

Citrine Orange vs. Blackstar, Court 2

Bye: Purple Haze

 

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 +) 5-0

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 vs. Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom), 7:45 p.m., Court 1

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), 2-3

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 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 +) 3-2

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 vs. Citrine Orange, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

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 +) 3-2

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

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

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

 

Jade (D3-Arcadia +) 1-4

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 vs. Sunburst, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

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 +) 3-3

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 vs. Royal Crown, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 14 Bye

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

 

Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata +) 1-5

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 vs. Purple Haze, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

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

July 15 Bye

 

Sunburst (D3-Ursinus +) 1-4

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 vs. Jade, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

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 5-0 W-RC; W-PU; Bye; W-SU; W-BS; W-CO; vs. 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

EP 3-2 W-EG; L-BS; W-JA; Bye; W-RC; L-PH; vs. AQ; vs. SU; vs. CO

EG 3-2 L-EP; Bye; WF- PH; W-JA; W-SU; L-RC; vs. CO; vs. AQ; vs. BS

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

CO 2-3 L-PH; L-JA; W-SU; W-RC; Bye; L-AQ; vs. EG; vs. BS; vs. EP

JA 1-4 L-BS; W-CO; vs. L-EP; L-EG; L-PH; Bye; vs. SU; vs. RC; vs. AQ

SU 1-4 Bye; W-RC; L-CO; L- AQ; L-EG; L-BS; vs. JA; vs. EP; vs. PH

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