HATBORO, PA - The Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s NCAA Summer Basketball League semifinals didn’t have the pizazz, excitement or close finishes like the quarterfinals, but resulted in chalk. The top two seeds dominated their opponents, with Maroon destroying Purple on the boards and in the hustle department and Gold throttling Pink in transition points and inside scoring.

Both teams played each other in the regular season, with Maroon winning by just one point and Gold failing to sink a game-winning shot down 44-43 in the last possession. Both looked in control in Tuesday’s games, en route to a championship matchup.

Maroon’s team effort against Purple’s sensational duo of Chelsea Woods (Saint Joseph’s, 2018) and Jaryn Garner (Saint Joseph’s, 2017) allowed them to lock both down talents down and stifle the No. 4 seed offensively.

Maroon entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and has played sound defense through their first two games. Their first-round victory over Royal Blue was expected, but this was a serious marquee victory that should have Gold on notice.

Micah Morgan (University of the Sciences, 2019) and Natalie Stella (University of the Sciences, 2018) both had 11 points for Maroon. Stella exhibited continuous hustle and poise in the game and felt the energy level throughout the team was reciprocal.

“It doesn’t take skill to go after the ball,” Stella said. “It takes heart and I know we have a lot of heart.”

Stella believes that Maroon’s momentum could carry over to the Championship game.

Purple fell on the sword of Chelsea Woods’ offensive tendencies and ability. She had a game-high 20 points but took too many shots from the floor, deep especially, and didn’t allow Garner (16 points) to facilitate and set her up properly. 

Gold trailed after the first quarter, manifested a lead in the second quarter and went nuclear in the second half. Adaisha Franklyn (Saint Joseph’s, 2018) just couldn’t be contained in the low post. She would catch the ball and power dribble into an easy one hand shot from the right block. Or, she’d turn into a two-hand hook shot for the flawless finish. Scoring 27 points, the 6-foot-2 star looks like a tough contain in the Championship game. She’s amped for the championship game and understands the adjustments in order to flip the result of last time.

“I think I have to prepare myself to be mentally tough,” Franklyn said. “We did lose to them before because we slacked off in the beginning. We have to come out playing hard all the time and not slack off.”

Pink couldn’t find a way to contain Franklyn and her Gold squad. With a team that’s aggregate age is about four years younger than Gold’s, the loss was more a product of poor matchup to a tenured team. Hypothetically, Pink arguably would’ve liked to battle Maroon before eventually matching up with Gold in the finale. Emma Dorshimer (Gettysburg, 2019) led the team with 15 points and regularly had to match up against older, D-1 players. She’s one of the players to watch out for next season, as she enters her second collegiate season this fall.