The Nike Rose Classic championship game would as predicted include the back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back defending champs Exodus NYC. This time against Swagga Like Us. In the end, Exodus proved as always that no one has a swagger like them (yet) as they won their sixth successive chip, 75-55
Early on, the competition was fierce but after instituting a full court press, Exodus would pull ahead by 5 points halfway through the quarter.
Swagga Like Us would prove to be a resilient team with the first a few comebacks, pulling to within 1 point as Alicia Cropper (20 points) scored with strong drives into the heart of the Exodus defense.
Exodus NYC would manage to carry a 4 point lead into the second quarter but Bria Hartley (32 points) expanded the lead back to 7 with acrobatic points in transition.
Temple commit Victoria McCauley (12 points; 3 rebounds) did a good job clogging the paint making it at times difficult for Exodus to score. SLU kept the pressure on and as time ran out, Northeastern bound Afreya Tolbert (9 points) went 1-1 from the foul line to cut Exodus' lead to 32-31 at the half.
At halftime, during a break in the action, St. Johns commit, Eugenia McPherson (NY Elite), received an award for Nike Rose Classic all-season MVP.
To start the third, McCauley, a 6-foot-4 senior, would score an and-1 to give Swagger Like Us their first lead of 2 points. That advantage would increase to 3 points but would be brief as the defending champs began to protect the turf they felt was there's.
With 4:55 left in the third, Exodus' starting center Brittany Webb (6 points; 3 rebs) would foul out allowing SLU to stay within striking range as the Exodus interior took a hit in Webbs absense
Jelleah Sydney (9 points) would step up and single handedly give Exodus a 5 point lead and renewed vigor. Her efforts with under 4 minutes Sydney scored a hustle point layup off turnover. That being said, SLU still had some swagger left.
With 29 seconds left in the third, Cropper nailed a three-pointer to pull Swagga Like Us to within 1 point but Hartley swished an off balance NBA range, three pointer to give Exodus a 4 point cushion as the final quarter began.
Hartley would begin to stretch it out with a three-pointer 2 minutes into fourth as Swagga seemed to still be reeling from Hartleys momentum crushing buzzer beater from the previous quarter. At the 4:22 mark, a three pointer and a bucket by Jennifer O'Neill (16 points), and suddenly Exodus was up by 14 points.
SLU would never regain their swagger and as the clock finally struck zero, Exodus would once again collect their championship hardware as the dynasty continues.
Posted from wireless.rivals.com[/URL]
Early on, the competition was fierce but after instituting a full court press, Exodus would pull ahead by 5 points halfway through the quarter.
Swagga Like Us would prove to be a resilient team with the first a few comebacks, pulling to within 1 point as Alicia Cropper (20 points) scored with strong drives into the heart of the Exodus defense.
Exodus NYC would manage to carry a 4 point lead into the second quarter but Bria Hartley (32 points) expanded the lead back to 7 with acrobatic points in transition.
Temple commit Victoria McCauley (12 points; 3 rebounds) did a good job clogging the paint making it at times difficult for Exodus to score. SLU kept the pressure on and as time ran out, Northeastern bound Afreya Tolbert (9 points) went 1-1 from the foul line to cut Exodus' lead to 32-31 at the half.
At halftime, during a break in the action, St. Johns commit, Eugenia McPherson (NY Elite), received an award for Nike Rose Classic all-season MVP.
To start the third, McCauley, a 6-foot-4 senior, would score an and-1 to give Swagger Like Us their first lead of 2 points. That advantage would increase to 3 points but would be brief as the defending champs began to protect the turf they felt was there's.
With 4:55 left in the third, Exodus' starting center Brittany Webb (6 points; 3 rebs) would foul out allowing SLU to stay within striking range as the Exodus interior took a hit in Webbs absense
Jelleah Sydney (9 points) would step up and single handedly give Exodus a 5 point lead and renewed vigor. Her efforts with under 4 minutes Sydney scored a hustle point layup off turnover. That being said, SLU still had some swagger left.
With 29 seconds left in the third, Cropper nailed a three-pointer to pull Swagga Like Us to within 1 point but Hartley swished an off balance NBA range, three pointer to give Exodus a 4 point cushion as the final quarter began.
Hartley would begin to stretch it out with a three-pointer 2 minutes into fourth as Swagga seemed to still be reeling from Hartleys momentum crushing buzzer beater from the previous quarter. At the 4:22 mark, a three pointer and a bucket by Jennifer O'Neill (16 points), and suddenly Exodus was up by 14 points.
SLU would never regain their swagger and as the clock finally struck zero, Exodus would once again collect their championship hardware as the dynasty continues.
Posted from wireless.rivals.com[/URL]
