Chelsea Gray and Angel Reese’s dynamic pick-and-roll execution proved unstoppable Tuesday night as the Rose secured a hard-fought 61-55 victory over the Vinyl in Unrivaled women’s basketball action.
Gray led all scorers with 26 points, including the game-winning bucket, while Reese posted a dominant double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
The Rose stormed to a 13-2 lead after the first quarter but found themselves trailing 49-48 heading into the final frame. Despite the shift in momentum, head coach Nola Henry praised her team’s resilience.
“We went down, and nobody really hung their head,” Henry said. “They just went on a run, and it was always ‘we can get the next stop, and then we’re executing on offense.’ The only thing that matters is what’s right in front of you.”
Gray and Reese anchored the Rose’s offense, while Brittney Sykes contributed 17 points to secure the team’s fourth win, bringing their record to 4-4. Rhyne Howard led the Vinyl with 24 points, and Dearica Hamby added 22 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
In the second game of the night, Kayla McBride put on an offensive clinic, scoring 30 points to lead the Laces to a 75-68 win over the Phantom.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton made an immediate impact in her Unrivaled debut, finishing with 23 points and sinking the game-winner on a player-relief contract.
The Laces played shorthanded, with several key players out due to injuries, but their resilience paid off. Sabrina Ionescu led the Phantom with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Satou Sabally and Brittney Griner added 15 and 14 points, respectively.
With Unrivaled’s second half officially underway, four of the six teams will advance to the playoff semifinals on March 16, with the championship game set for March 17.
Unrivaled Scores – Tuesday Night:
Game 1: Rose 61, Vinyl 55
Game 2: Laces 75, Phantom 68
Unrivaled Standings:
- Lunar Owls (8-0)
- Laces (4-3)
- Rose (4-4)
- Vinyl (3-5)
- Phantom (2-6)
- Mist (2-6)
Up Next in Unrivaled:
The Rose will look to build on their two-game winning streak, while the Vinyl aim to snap a four-game skid. Meanwhile, the Laces hope to get healthier as they push toward the playoffs.
