Archive for November, 2010

Newer Entries »

Dandenong Avenges Loss to Logan

Monday, November 8th, 2010

The Dandenong Jayco Rangers were unbeaten and atop the WNBL when they were bumped off by the Logan BDS Thunder last weekend. On Saturday, they got another chance at home and snapped a two-game losing streak by blowing out the Thunder, 99-63. Dandenong pulled away during the second quarter, outscoring Logan 27-11 in the period, including a 16-3 run. Abby Bishop was unstoppable, scoring 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including four makes beyond the arc. Ashley Robinson contributed six points, three rebounds and a blocked shot. Stephanie Cumming and Kathleen MacLeod both scored 19 points for the Rangers, who are back in second place after five rounds of play.

Through seven games of Liga Feminina play, Ros Casares Valencia has yet to be challenged. That did not change on Saturday, when Ros Casares swamped Obanesa Navarra 86-41. Obanesa Navarra did not score more than 12 points in any quarter against the stout Ros Casares defense. Obanesa Navarra shot just 7-of-31 on two-point attempts, but did have a little more success beyond the arc. Former Storm guard Edwige Lawson scored a game-high 18 points, with Rebekkah Brunson adding 17 and seven boards. Jana Vesela had 11 points and six boards.

Elizur Ramla opened Monday’s game by outscoring Maccabi Ashdod 16-4 in the opening quarter. Ashdod made it a game, but Ramla held on for the 73-65 victory. Le’coe Willingham recorded a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Tanisha Wright scored 12 points. Camille Little’s 22 points and eight rebounds led Electra Ramat Hasharon past Raanana Hertzeliya 81-63 in a game Ramat Hasharon blew open after halftime.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Spartak Bounces Back

Friday, November 5th, 2010

After two losses in a row, Spartak Moscow Region took out some frustration on Galatasaray during Euroleague play Wednesday. Spartak led 15-4 after one quarter and allowed just 13 first-half points en route to a 66-40 blowout victory. Galatasaray’s top players, Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles – who both played for Spartak Head Coach Pokey Chatman at LSU – were held to a combined 15 points on 4-of-20 shooting. Fowles turned the ball over seven times. Lauren Jackson was key to the defensive effort and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. She scored seven points as she continues to rediscover her shooting touch after a lengthy break. Epiphanny Prince led Spartak by scoring 19 points.

Ros Casares Valencia also had an easy time of its Euroleague matchup against Bourges on Tuesday, winning 74-47. Ros Casares started the game with an 11-0 run and never looked back, leading by 20-plus points much of the second half. The Ros Casares defense was stifling, holding Bourges to 34 percent shooting and four free throws all game while forcing 19 turnovers. Rebekkah Brunson (19 points, 14 rebounds) led Ros Casares with a double-double. Jana Vesela added seven points and five boards.

The WNBL-leading Canberra Transact Capitals picked up their fourth consecutive win Friday, defeating the Townsville Fire at home, 74-61. The Capitals were led by 20 points from Carly Wilson and a double-double (15 points, 12 boards) from Marianna Tolo.

In Israel, Elizur Ramla bounced back from a loss to topple Elizur Rishon Lezion 87-58. Tanisha Wright scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Le’coe Willingham controlled the paint with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Willingham made nine free throws in 10 attempts. Camille Little had 11 points and nine boards as Electra Ramat Hasharon pulled out a tough matchup with Elizur Natanya, 66-63. Teammate Chante Black dominated with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The teams played with a pink ball to support breast cancer awareness.

Posted in overseas | Comments Off

The Influential Lauren Jackson

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Seattle Magazine is out with its November edition highlighting “The Most Influential of 2010,” a group that includes Storm star Lauren Jackson. Here’s what Seattle Magazine’s John Levesque – a former P-I sports columnist – wrote about the WNBA’s three-time MVP.

Storm coach Brian Agler says what makes Jackson complete is her desire to play stout defense. “There are going to be a lot of players with [offensive] numbers in this league,” Agler says, “but no one can do both like her.”

This aversion to being one-dimensional is classic Jackson. She knows her basketball career will end someday—she’d like to play until she’s 35—so she is pursuing a degree in gender studies at Macquarie University outside Sydney and hopes one day to help women who have suffered discrimination, dislocation and disenfranchisement.

This month’s Seattle Magazine is on newsstands now.

Mason Kelley of the Seattle Times spoke to Adia Barnes about her new role with Seattle Academy.

What are your long-term plans with this opportunity?

“I just retired from basketball, so this is my first year not playing in the winter. It’s a change for me. I’m going to be in Seattle. I’m going to be doing television for FSN. I’m going to be doing some marketing and some non-profit work with the Seattle Storm. Long-term, I hope to establish and build a relationship with Seattle Academy. I hope it’s not something that’s just this year. I hope it’s something I continue to do for many years.

“I know they do a lot with their non-profits. I hope to establish programs for girls. I live in that area, so I hope it’s something we can build on and I hope it’s something we can do for a long time. I already have been mentoring kids for different organizations for many years. It’s just that I’m doing in on a different level in a different way. For me, it’s a great opportunity.”

Before heading to Russia, Jackson took some time to visit youth basketball players in nearby Moruya.

(Official Donna) Berry said Jackson would be welcome to return to Moruya at any time.

“We are all so lucky to meet such a wonderful ambassador for the sport of basketball and we are all hoping she may call in again when in Moruya.”

You’ve still got a couple of days to vote for your favorite Storm shot as part of the HP Photo of the Year contest.

WNBA.com provides an interactive map covering the entire league to complement our map of Storm players overseas.

Mechelle Voepel writes on ESPN.com about the Lynx topping the lottery once again.

“Well, we’re going to keep our options open,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said in a teleconference Tuesday. “We’re not afraid to make big trades.”

OK … seriously? Nah, probably not. Provided everyone stays healthy (crossing fingers), the Lynx are expected to include Moore in with what Reeve said was a “core group” that she hopes will bring success sooner rather than later to Minnesota.

Posted in in the media, jackson | Comments Off

Lynx Win Draft Lottery

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

The Minnesota Lynx have the right lucky charms when it comes to the WNBA Draft Lottery. For the second consecutive year, the Lynx hit the lottery jackpot on Tuesday at the league’s meetings in New York. By virtue of holding two of the four picks in the lottery – their own and the Connecticut Sun’s – Minnesota had nearly as good a chance of winning the lotto as the Tulsa Shock, which finished with the league’s worst record. Ultimately, it was the Lynx’s combination (not the Sun’s) that came up when the No. 1 overall pick was drawn.

Minnesota traded last year’s top pick to Connecticut, but figures to hang on to this year’s selection to pair with 2006 No. 1 pick Seimone Augustus and the rest of a talented core that is still working to translate that promise into results on the floor. The overwhelming expectation is that University of Connecticut forward Maya Moore will be the top pick next April after winning the Wade Trophy each of the last two years and other national player of the year honors (including the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award) as a sophomore.

The Lynx will also pick fourth overall with the selection acquired from the Sun. The Shock landed the No. 2 pick, while the Chicago Sky will pick third. By virtue of the WNBA’s best regular-season record, the Storm holds the 12th and final pick in the first round.

Beyond Moore, other top prospects include Australian center Elizabeth Cambage and Xavier teammates Amber Harris and Ta’Shia Phillips.

Posted in draft | Comments Off

Spartak Falls in Jackson’s Season Debut

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Spartak Moscow Region got the benefit of Lauren Jackson’s return to the lineup for Sunday’s Russian Superleague game, but fell nonetheless at home to new rival Nadezhda, 82-74. Jackson, just days removed from traveling from Australia to Moscow, pulled down seven rebounds but struggled to find her shot, finishing with points on 1-of-9 shooting. Meanwhile, Spartak struggled to contain Nadezhda’s stars Becky Hammon and Tina Charles. Hammon tied teammate Anastasia Veremeenko for game-high scoring honors with 20 points in addition to six rebounds and five assists, while Charles finished with a double-double of 18 points and 13 boards. Anete Jekabsone-Zogota was the only Spartak player to make a three-pointer. The team finished 3-of-18 from beyond the arc.

It would be hard to find a more balanced scoring effort than Ros Casares Valencia had in Saturday’s 88-50 win over C.B. Olesa. Eight players scored between seven and 10 points, with only Rebekkah Brunson (23 points and 12 boards) surpassing that total. Jana Vesela was part of the scoring by committee, totaling nine points on 3-of-6 shooting and handing out six assists.

A tough weekend for Dandenong started with the team undefeated and ended with the Rangers in third place after consecutive losses. On Sunday, it was winless Townsville that got off the schneid with a 73-66 home win over Dandenong. Abby Bishop led the team with 15 points, but got little help as the Rangers misfired from beyond the arc, shooting 4-of-17. Bishop was the only Dandenong player in double-figures. Ashley Robinson chipped in seven points and seven rebounds.

Meanwhile, Canberra surged into the top spot with consecutive wins over the weekend. The Capitals outlasted the Sydney University Flames 87-83 in overtime on Saturday night to improve to 7-1. Alison Lacey enjoyed her best game of the season with 17 points. Carly Wilson led Canberra with 19 points and Michelle Cosier added 18 for the defending champs.

Posted in jackson, overseas | 1 Comment »

Newer Entries »