skip navigation

Girls' Basketball: NCAA Summer League Opener Brings Instant Excitement

By James Williamson, 06/16/16, 5:00PM EDT

Share

HATBORO, PA – Wednesday night saw the opening of the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s NCAA Summer Basketball league. The league consists of DI, DII, and DIII collegiate basketball players who live in the surrounding Philadelphia area. Schools ranging from University of the Sciences to St. Joseph’s University to Dartmouth are all represented in this league.

Originally used as a serious source of Summer practice, the league has since become a fun way for girls to stay in shape through the Summer while still honing their skills for the upcoming season.

David Kessler, who is now in his 23 year running the Summer league, believes these girls have enough to deal with during the season and wants his league to be seen as more of a place where they can just have fun.

 

“There’s just so much pressure on [the players] during the school year. They’re in the weight room; they’ve got film study, plus their course work. It’s more of a non-pressure thing because they deal with enough of that in the school year,” said league director David Kessler.

Despite the laid back mentality, Kessler has noticed that girls who play in the league seem to have a tendency of lighting up scoreboards once Winter rolls around.

Kessler thought the league’s opening night went off without a hitch and he can only hope things stay that way for the rest of the season.

“I don’t have any goals for the league, to me a successful season is no injuries, no crazy incidents, and everybody has a good time,” said Kessler.

GAME RECAPS

Kelly Green 66 Sky Blue 90:

Team Sky Blue put on an impressive display in their 24-point win over Team Kelly Green.

Sky Blue was by far the league’s leading offense with Kelly Green scoring the third most points in the league; which really makes Sky Blue’s win all the more impressive. A heavy dose of three point shots led to Sky Blue’s big win as the team went on to drop ten shots from beyond the arc. Sky Blue’s Ciara Andrews led both teams in scoring with 25 while Jessica Gerber dropped five of her team’s ten three pointers. Elizabeth Radley paced Team Kelly Green with 19 points.

Penn Charter grad Ayanna Matthews (Princeton ’20) scores a lay-up

Black 52 Gold 63:

It was a back and fourth game for much of the night. Team Gold held the lead throughout the contest while Team Black would continually battle back and eat into their deficit. The lead would prove to be too big as Gold began to pile on in the game’s closing minutes. Gold’s Alex Smith would lead both teams in scoring with 18, while Rachel Day lead Team Black with 15. Gold’s Michele McCaughern went 6-6 from the charity strip while scoring 14.

Orange 50 Red 52:

This game was over before it even started as Team Orange forfeited to Team Red due to a lack of available players. 

Despite the forfeit and the shorthanded Orange team, both teams decided to play anyway. Team Red was in the driver’s seat for much of the game before sacrificing their lead in its final minutes. Team Orange would erase a ten-point deficit to pull within two with one-minute left in the game, however that’s as close as they would come to a comeback. Team Orange would be held scoreless in the final minute giving Red the all around win. 

Hunter Green 48 White 44:

It was a close contest for much of the night, but the sweet shooting of team Hunter Green’s Julia Gentz would prove to be too much for Team While. Gentz would lead both teams with 21 points while also dropping four trey balls; Team White would go scoreless from beyond the arc. Alexandra Heck would lead all Team White scorers with 14.

Kelsey Watson (Kutztown ’18) makes a put-back shot

Dominant White & Green Defense

Arch. Carroll grad Julia Gantz makes a free throw (Bloomsburg ‘18)

Pink 72 Purple 65:

This game was a classic example of why one person cannot do it all themselves. Team Purple’s Chelsea Woods was one of the most impressive players to step on the court in the league’s opener. 

When she was storming down the court, players either got out of her way or Woods got them out of her way. She was having her way with Team Pink which led to her being double teamed for much of the third quarter. Wood’s would score a league high 32, but her efforts were not enough, as the sharp shooting of team Pink would prove to be too much. Lauren Rothfeld and Hannah Fox would lead Team Pink in scoring with 19 and 18 both respectively, both sank four three point balls.

Madison Kimball scores under the basket (Penn State Abington ’17)

Royal Blue 55 Maroon 62:

Team Royal Blue grabbed the lead in the game’s early minutes, but Team Maroon then captured and ran with it for the bulk of the game’s remainder. Royal Blue would come close on several occasions to recapturing the lead and the momentum, but Maroon would be there to always take it right back. Royal Blue’s Katie Armstrong would pace all scorers with 21. Alex Thomas led Maroon in scoring with 16, while Alyx McKiernan would provide a long range shooting dropping three 3 pointers en route to 14 points.

Katie Armstrong drives to the basket (St. Joe’s ’20)