Not one, not two, not three, not four.
The Rose Basketball Club continued their meteoric rise in the Unrivaled standings with a 71-59 win over the Phantom on Monday. The Rose clawed their way up from a 1-4 record with 5-straight wins, which officially put them in second place in the league's standings following a Laces loss on Monday. They only trail the Lunar Owls, who hold just one loss in their first ten games and who became the first team to lock their spot in the Unrivaled playoffs on Saturday.
Forward Angel Reese again dominated in the must-win matchup. She logged her second-straight 20-point double-double in the game that saw her new teammate in Ariel Atkins take the floor for an Unrivaled squad for the second time this season. Reese proved she was one of the league's best rebounding talents as she led the game in rebounds for the second night in a row with 14 boards. She continued to showcase her improvement on the court with 23 points and five assists.
While the game seemed to be neck-and-neck in the first half, a 3rd-quarter surge from the Rose gave them all the room they needed to seal the victory. Guard Chelsea Gray would end up calling game with a long-range heave as the Rose were up by nine points. The veteran guard would log 26 points for the third night in a row, showcasing her importance as a scorer on a Rose squad looking to solidify its spot in the playoffs. It will be up to her to continue being the engine of the Rose's offense as they take to their March schedule.
The Rose will tip off against the Mist at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on TruTV and can be streamed on Max.