By Destiny Hartwell:
CHARLOTTE, NC – Entering the final month of the inaugural UPSHOT League season, two teams heading in vastly different directions met on the hardwood. The Charlotte Crown rode into the matchup on a hot five-game winning streak, fresh off the milestone announcement that Michelle Oniyah became the first player in league history to sign a WNBA contract. On the other side, the Savannah Steel were desperate to snap a nine-game slide and secure their first victory under Interim Head Coach Toccara Ross.
Despite a valiant second-half push from Savannah, Charlotte’s depth and fourth-quarter explosion proved too much to handle, sealing a 76-65 victory for the Crown.
1st Quarter: Crown’s Balanced Attack Takes Early Lead
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Steel took the floor severely shorthanded, missing both Olivia Cochran and Zee Spearman. Spearman had poured in 27 points the last time these two squads clashed.
Looking for answers early, Savannah got an immediate spark from Lauryn Taylor, who scored the team’s first five points and pushed her tally to seven midway through the frame to keep things tied 10-10 with 3:24 on the clock. Alisia Jenkins also got herself on the board early after a scoreless Friday night against Jacksonville. However, Charlotte’s balanced offense took control late, unleashing a swift 12-2 run to end the quarter up 18-10, with seven different Crown players entering the scoring column.
2nd Quarter: Turnovers Stifle Savannah’s Comeback
The Steel fought back in the second frame behind high-energy minutes from Najai Pollard off the bench. Pollard went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field for six points to keep Savannah within striking distance, while Ja’Leah Williams repeatedly attacked downhill with aggressive drives.
Despite their offensive flashes, unforced errors continued to plague Savannah. Coughed-up possession after possession, accumulating over 11 turnovers in the period, prevented the Steel from closing the gap. Charlotte carried a 33-24 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
3rd Quarter: Lauryn Taylor Fuels Historic Surge
Whatever Coach Ross said at the break paid immediate dividends. Savannah exploded out of the halftime gates with a 10-4 run to trim the deficit to 37-34. Pushing the pace at every opportunity, the Steel stormed ahead on a dominant 16-4 run, taking a 40-37 lead and forcing Crown Head Coach Trisha Stafford-Odom to call a quick timeout with 5:30 remaining in the third.
Powered by a game high 19-point effort from Taylor at that time, Savannah thoroughly outplayed Charlotte in the third, outscoring the Crown 26-14 to carry a 50-47 lead into the final period.
4th Quarter: Richardson Rules the Final Frame
The Crown did not stay on their heels for long. Charlotte quickly leveled the game at 50-50 to start the fourth. Although Jenkins aggressively drew contact and went to the charity stripe to keep Savannah fighting, the Crown’s offense hit another gear.
Behind a stellar 33-point performance from Reigan Richardson, Charlotte orchestrated a decisive 21-8 push late in the frame to build a 68-58 cushion with just over three minutes left. Dominating the final ten minutes 29-15, the Crown closed out the 76-65victory.
For complete team and individual statistics from this matchup, view the full game box score here.
Looking Ahead
The Steel won’t have to wait long to seek redemption. Savannah gears up for an immediate rematch against the Charlotte Crown on Wednesday, August 5, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM.
Don’t Miss the Action at Enmarket Arena!
If you haven’t made your way to Enmarket Arena yet, don’t miss your chance before the inaugural season wraps up! The Savannah Steel finish their regular season at home with a three-game homestand from August 21–23. Single-game and season ticket packages can be purchased online at the official Savannah Steel website or by calling (912) 494-2868.
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