Rose BC 63 – 57 Laces
Both teams had a fair season, with the Rose starting at the bottom of the standings but soon rising to second place and the Laces starting at second place to dipping low but rising again to secure the third position in the playoff games. In their first meetup, the Laces won with a 7-point difference (71 – 64). In the second meetup, the Laces lost by 14 points; in their last meetup in the regular season, the Rose won by only five points. It was also a low-scoring game. The Laces came into the playoffs with a 1 – 2 record against the Rose. It was debatable whether the Laces could avenge their two losses against the Rose, but it ended in a 6-point difference game, with Rose winning.
The Game
Rose maintained the lead for a greater part of the first quarter, but Laces overturned it to lead by two points during the quarter. Moving into the second quarter, the Laces built on the lead to lead at one point by 13 points till the end of the quarter. The two teams exchanged leads in the third quarter, but the Laces finished with a 2-point lead. Chelsea Gray was fundamental to the Rose’s win, making nine points and an assist in the fourth quarter. The game ended with a 6-point difference, which wasn’t different from the scoring range the two teams had showcased against each other during the regular season.
Key Statistics
Angel Reese, who currently leads the league in rebounds, didn’t play, but Azurá Stevens stepped up her game to secure 11 rebounds for Rose, filling the void left by Angel. Chelsea Gray posted a record-high 39 points. For the Laces, Alyssa Thomas scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Kayla McBride and Tiffany Hayes combined for 28 points.
Championship Game: Monday, March 17
The Rose defeated the Vinyl 62-54, making them the first-ever champions of Unrivaled Basketball. Chelsea Gray was named the Finals MVP.
