Ebay Center, Queens: Briana Livilotti v. Cassandra. The red cue gets the start with 7-ball in the day's first series. Queens' Briana had a three-ball run in a shaky game 1, but it didn't help her. Both players lacked the requisite accuracy to make simple shots, and Diamond's Cassandra found the win on a two-rail bank of the 7 to the bottom side, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Cassandra didn't quite have the same luck in game 2, while the Flames' Briana arguably got better in this regard. Briana displayed plenty of skill at the end, banking the 6 to the top side and the 7 to the top left for the win, which tied the series at 1. Briana's game 3 break left the 1-7 combination lined up for Cassandra, and the visitor converted without issue for a one-shot win. Cassandra took the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Acorn. A British Derby featuring last year's MVP and a longtime star will be done with the silver cue in 8-ball. Everton's Blizzard had a decent break in game 1, but she stayed a step behind the faster attack of Lighton's Acorn for the whole game. Acorn brought the game to a close on a four-ball run-out for his win and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn found two balls on the break, one of each suit, and selected stripes. He needed only a couple turns after that to get the win, keeping ahead of the Eagles' Blizzard all the time. Acorn clinched the series at 2-0. Acorn held a lead for most of game 3, but he lacked the pinpoint precision of earlier games, falling to Blizzard on her comeback three-ball run-out at the end. Acorn still claimed the series 2-1 as he moves into the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: B. Chapman v. Taylor Swift. Strong players on new teams square off in Rotation with the blue cue. North Modernistic's Chapman jumped out to an early lead in game 1, and while Commerce's Taylor chipped back in the middle of the game, Chapman closed with an 8-5 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Chapman tried a similar strategy in game 2, but the Tradewinds' Taylor held on a bit longer in the early going. Chapman still managed to pull away, only to see Taylor double-pot the 10 and 13 in the top corners. Chapman made the 12-15 combination to the bottom right and then potted the 12 to secure the game at 8-6 and the series at 2-0. Chapman held a lead in game 3 as well, but only after Taylor lost control of the game early on. Taylor rallied back late with a nice run, and then won 8-7. Chapman advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine McPhee v. Twinkie I. A rookie and a relocated veteran meet in 9-ball with the silver cue. Whitewater's Katharine started with a four-ball run from the break in game 1, but she lacked offense after that, and Pacific's Twinkie I eventually picked up the slack for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Shores' Katharine didn't have the same burst of offense. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I looked in control until late, when Katharine had a chance to end the game. She couldn't make the 9, and Twinkie I mopped it up for another win, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 featured some chaotic play on both sides, but Twinkie I went on a five-ball run-out at the end to secure the 3-0 series sweep over Katharine as she punched her ticket to the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Fluffina. Staying in the same city, the blue cue steps in for some 12-ball. Infinity's Fluffina struck first in game 1 after Whitewater's Marsell scratched on the break. Fluffina maintained the early momentum through the end, evading Marsell's defense to pick up the win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Fluffina went in the other direction on the game 2 break, potting one of each. She took stripes, but she couldn't get set up before the Shores' Marsell positioned himself and rallied to take the win, tying the series at 1. Marsell had a decent break this time, and he had Fluffina down and out when she gave away a wild-card ball, but Marsell soon gave it back. This gave Fluffina the time she needed to rally her way to a win, taking the series 2-1 in the process as she makes it to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Watermelon. Experienced veterans keep 12-ball in play, but the red cue administers this series. Game 1 had a strategic tone to it unlike the previous series, and it took a lot of positioning and defense for Pearl's Watermelon to hold off a firm attack from Archtown's Sally. Watermelon came up big at the end, making her last shot for the win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, it was the Arrows' Sally who pulled ahead in the middle of the game, forcing the Surfers' Watermelon to play some defense. Watermelon couldn't keep it up forever, and Sally darted in for the win to tie the series at 1. Almost every rule saw a challenge in game 3, with Sally scratching on the break while claiming stripes, Watermelon's wild-card ball surrendered to try to clear the way for a run, and Sally intentionally potting her last ball illegally. Watermelon got ball-in-hand to make her last shot for the win, taking the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Rosemary. Young players meet in 9-ball with the red cue. The Industrial Derby got off to a slow start in game 1, but Whitewater's Marsell brought it to an exciting finish, stunning Commerce's Rosemary with a six-ball run-out, which gave Marsell a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Shores' Marsell had a three-ball run in game 2 that ended to give the Tradewinds' Rosemary a chance, but she missed on the 9, and Marsell cut it in to get the win, securing the series at 2-0 as well. Marsell made game 3 quick and painless, with a seven-ball run on his second turn and the final pair of shots a turn later, shutting Rosemary out and also sweeping her in the series 3-0. Marsell confidently treads on to the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Kayla. A strong sophomore meets a resurgent veteran in 10-ball with the blue cue. Pronger's Spot didn't have his best performance in game 1, but he got a three-ball run-out after a bad miss from Royal's Kayla. Spot's finisher was a deflection off the 6 to take the 10 at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Spot had two critical errors late in game 2, leaving an opening for the Crowns' Kayla to strike back, and she did so, grabbing the win and tying the series at 1 with opportunistic shooting. Kayla made a pair of balls on the break in game 3, and she battled through the middle of the game pretty evenly with Spot before taking a three-ball run-out in the end to get the win. Kayla advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Roxy. The blue cue remains in play for this Accuracy series between veterans. The two players exchanged shots throughout game 1, and while Everton's Cleo missed once, Freedom's Roxy matched it near the end of the game. Cleo couldn't get anything on the overtime break, paving the way for Roxy to take the 1-2 win. Game 2 started in similar fashion, but the Cascades' Roxy soon fell apart with a spate of misses. The Eagles' Cleo held the lead for awhile, but she took the last three misses, and Roxy stole the 4-5 win away to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 went much like game 1, and even better by the end of a perfect battle in regulation. Roxy was millimeters away from keeping it going on the overtime break, but her miss and Cleo's make gave the latter an 0-1 win. Roxy still takes a 2-1 series win to the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Lize. An injured rookie takes on a healthy captain in 9-ball with the silver cue. Pronger's Lize briefly overcame her disadvantage, striking a four-ball run, but she couldn't get close enough to the 9, and Southridge's Debby poached it late for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Lize again took a four-ball run in game 2 from ball-in-hand, but the Defenders' Debby countered with a four-ball run-out at the end, taking the game to clinch the series at 2-0. Lize again found a three-ball run in game 3, displaying a bit of offense with limitations, but Debby had a three-ball run-out right after that, getting the win and the series sweep at 3-0. Debby did have an easy time advancing to the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Vincent Sullivan. Another captain versus rookie situation emerges in 9-ball, this time being played with the blue cue. Harrison's Twinkie II had a clear advantage in offense over Viewpoint Sound's Vincent, getting a small run early on and a three-ball run-out to take the win late. Twinkie II leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Vincent didn't look to have much more offense in game 2, but he weathered a potent attack early on from the Specters' Twinkie II and shot back with a three-ball run-out to grab the win, tying the series at 1. Vincent kept up the momentum in game 3, but he wouldn't get a chance to finish off the effort, as Twinkie II took a three-ball run-out at first chance to, sealing the series at 2-1 in her favor. The back-and-forth series win sees Twinkie II head to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Chelsea. The final series of the day is in 10-ball with the silver cue being used. Game 1 saw an awful break by Queens' Crystal, which slowed the game down dramatically. This didn't benefit Eastside's Chelsea, who couldn't play at a high tempo, and Crystal patiently waited to strike late for a pair of shots and the win, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal had a majority of the possession in game 2, but she pulled her one shot on the 10 wide of the top right, and the Sharks' Chelsea punished that mistake, tapping in the target ball to get the win, which tied the series at 1. Chelsea did just enough to keep things interesting in game 3, but she pulled away on a three-ball run-out at the end, leaving Crystal to suffer the loss. Chelsea took the series in a 2-1 win.
We'll be mixing things up tomorrow, with Tournament play before Select wraps up week 13 action. Follow along on Twitter
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