By Mel Greenberg
PHILADELPHIA - Kate Fagan, a former Colorado star and the Guru's first-ever client-colleague, may have moved on from the Philadelphia Deparment of Recreation NCAA Women's Summer League after turning pro with her quick promotion to becoming the 76ers beat writer, but her departure hasn't stopped her Red team from playing the role of Cinderella in the quarterfinals which were held Wednesday night at Northeast High.
Part of the reason for the Red's late-season success has been the arrival of Villanova star Laura Kurz soon after Fagan anwered the call of duty and the sports department management team.
A former Duke player who transferred to the Wildcats two summers ago and became eligible last season to impact Villanova's resurgence, Kurz poured in 24 points, while Northeast High graduate Peaches Nesmith scored 20, as the sixth-seeded Red team upset No. 3 Black, 73-65..
Incidentally, Nesmith shares high school alumni status with the Guru, who went under the assumed name of "Hey You," for most of his high school career until a journalism class in his senior year sent him on a different direction.
Villanova's Siobhan O'Connor is also on the Red squad, which advanced to a semifinal game on Monday against No. 2 Columbia Blue, 6:45 p.m., at Torresdale Boys Club on Linden Street near the I-95 Academy Road exit.
St. Joseph's Jenna Loschiavo scored 12 fior the Black.
In another game of note, Drexel star power gave No. 4 Teal a 65-44 win over No. 5 Vegas Gold as Gabriella Marginean scored 18 points and Alison Lupariello scored 14.
Marginean. a junior next season on a course to become the Dragon's all-time scorer, was on opposite sides Wednesday night from a former Drexel sensation in Michelle Maslowski, who scored 14 for Vegas Gold.
Teal will meet top-seeded White at 8 p.m. in the other semifinal game with the winners beginning a best-of-three championship series, beginning next Wednesday night at Torresdale Boys Club.
Here's the complete rundown from Wednesday night quarterfinal action as provided from our colleague Stu London:
#1 Columbia Blue 94, #8 Hunter Green 71: Daveinia Payne led Columbia with 24 points while fellow La Salle U. alum Crista Rickets and former West Chester star Dana Weems each added 21. Mount St. Josephʼs Laura Johnson led Hunter with 23.
#6 Red 73, #3 Black 65: In the only upset of the night, Villanovaʼs Laura Kurz had 24 points and Northeast High graduate Peaches Nesmith added 20 points to led Red. St. Josephʼs Jenna Loschiavo had 12 for Black.
#2 White 62, #7 Orange 58: St. Joeʼs Brittany Ford led White with 21 points while La Salleʼs Ashley Gale and Andrea Jones each scored 12. La Salleʼs Margaret Elderton led Orange with 13 points, including four 3ʼs and Villanovaʼs Sarah Jones and Northeast resident Jasmine Elum each had 12.
#4Teal 65, #5Vegas Gold 44: Drexelʼs Gabriella Marginean (18) and Alison Lupariello (15) led Teal. Drexel alum Michelle Maslowski led Vegas Gold with 14.
Semifinals:
Monday at Torresdale Boys Club
6:45 p.m.: Columbia Blue vs. Red
8 p.m.: White vs. Teal
-- Mel
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