Archive for December, 2012

LJ Finds Source of Pain

Monday, December 17th, 2012

Lauren Jackson is confident she’s on the path to recovery after doctors were finally able to diagnose the exact source of pain in her back and hamstring that has sidelined Jackson since the end of the Storm’s season. A recent MRI found a tear in her adductor magnus muscle.

”More than anything it was just frustration not knowing what it is, and that it could potentially end my career, [which] was something I had to deal with,” Jackson explained to the Canberra Times. I feel like finally I know exactly what it is, we all do and we know how to treat it.

”It’s real relief. I’m with the best people and they know me well enough to know I was really scared, and now I’m not so scared any more.”

In news of a different sort, Jackson is one of six Aussie sporting “icons” picked by Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Sydney for a fan vote on which player to be replicated in wax.

“This is a great honor to be recognized as a nominee for this activity and I’m most grateful,” Jackson said. “There really are some great sporting legends in Madame Tussauds and it would be amazing to have my figure alongside them.”

Voting will last through Jan. 18 via the Madame Tussauds Facebook page.

CHINA

Shanghai (8-7) moved back above .500 with Saturday’s 83-66 win over Yunnan. Camille Little (23 points, 14 rebounds, five steals) and Storm camp invitee Lindsay Taylor (23 points, 13 boards) played more or less to a draw, but teammate Xiufeng Shi scored 25 points to lift the Baoshan to victory.

ISRAEL

Ramat Hasharon suffered a 63-53 setback Monday to Elizur Ramla, dropping to 3-3 in league play. Stats were not yet available.

RUSSIA

On Saturday, UMMC Ekaterinburg handed Nadezhda an 84-64 defeat behind 22 points and 13 assists from Diana Taurasi. Sandrine Gruda scored 18 points and Candace Parker and the Storm’s Ewelina Kobryn had 11 apiece. Taurasi was 5-of-7 from downtown and Kobryn added another three as UMMC shot 7-of-10 as a team.

Svetlana Abrosimova contributed six points, five rebounds and three assists in Dynamo Moscow’s 59-52 win over Rostov-Don. Kristi Toliver’s 14 points led all scorers in the defensive battle, which saw Rostov-Don shoot 39.1 percent as a team.

SOUTH KOREA

Thanks to Tina Thompson, Woori Hansae has been pulling out close games lately. Last Monday, Woori defeated Winnus 65-64, overcoming 16 points and 16 rebounds from former Storm center Ashley Robinson with 23 points and 10 rebounds from Thompson, who shot 11-of-17 from the field. Earlier today, it was a 69-64 win over S-Birds that moved Woori two games ahead in the battle for the top spot in the WKBL. Thompson had 28 points and 16 rebounds and shut down WNBA counterpart Cathrine Kraayeveld, who finished with just 10 points.

TURKEY

No problem for Galatasaray (8-1) in an 81-48 victory over Mersin. Ann Wauters had 13 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes of action, while Sylvia Fowles scored 17 points and grabbed nine boards. Elsewhere, Homend Antakya improved to 4-5 with a needed 106-61 blowout of lowly Edremit. Antakya did not need scoring from Shekinna Stricklen, who had 11 points and attempted just seven shots in 22 minutes (making three of her four tries beyond the arc). Naile Cirak led the team with 22 points and Jolene Anderson scored 18.

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Connecticut WBB HOF to Induct Brummel

Monday, December 17th, 2012

Lisa Brummel of Force 10 Hoops, the Storm’s ownership group, is getting some well-deserved accolades for her basketball exploits on the floor. The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will induct Brummel as part of its Class of 2013 based on Brummel’s career at Yale University from 1977-81. A multi-sport star as a Bulldog, Brummel was an All-Ivy selection after all four seasons and remains fifth on the school’s list of all-time leading scorers.

“I am truly honored to be inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and also proud to represent Yale University,” Brummel told YaleBulldogs.com. “During my college career I had the opportunity to play with great teammates who made me better as a player. Basketball is a team sport and I am grateful to have been on the Ivy League Championship team in 1979 and to have our team make the postseason tournament each year during my time at Yale.”

The Class of 2013 will be inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame next April 24. Brummel will be joined by Honorary Inductee Chris Dailey, the associate head women’s basketball coach at UConn, as well as former prep stars Karen “Pie” Draughn (Wilbur Cross High School, New Haven; Cheyney State) and Patty Costa (Andrew Warde High School, Fairfield; Fairfield University and University of Bridgeport), high school coach Nick Chaconis (Portland High School), and fellow collegian Amy Matthews McKenna (Thomaston High School, Western Connecticut State University). The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will also induct a college coach, who will be announced at a later date.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1988 to honor individuals who have contributed to the enhancement of women’s basketball in the State of Connecticut

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Dynamo Advances

Friday, December 14th, 2012

After an unexpected one-point home loss last week, Dynamo Moscow made the long trip to France for Thursday’s return leg against Tarbes GB needing to pull out a road win to advance to the EuroCup quarterfinals. Inspired by the addition of Svetlana Abrosimova to the roster, Dynamo got it, beating Tarbes 88-80 to claim the two-game aggregate series by a 142-135 total.

Abrosimova had five points and five rebounds while teammate Crystal Langhorne exploded for 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting as well as 10 reobunds. Irina Sokolovskaya added 21 points and three other players reached double figures for Dynamo, which advances to face another French side (BLMA) in the quarterfinals, which will be played on Jan. 17 and 24.

While Dynamo is through, the other Storm player in the EuroCup was eliminated. Shekinna Stricklen and Homend Antakya got off to an excellent start with a 79-61 win at home, but that margin wasn’t enough to withstand a 73-46 blowout loss Thursday to Chevakata in Russia. Stricklen led her team with 18 points but was held to 7-of-18 shooting with five turnovers. Former Tennessee teammate Glory Johnson did not go easy on Stricklen’s club, pacing Chevakata with 21 points and 12 boards.

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(Rules) Change Comes to the WNBA

Thursday, December 13th, 2012

The WNBA announced this morning that the league’s Board of Governors has voted to approve several rules changes that will slightly change the game you see on the court next season.

- The most noticeable difference is the three-point line moving back from its current distance of 20 feet, 6 1/4 inches to 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches, the new line used by FIBA in international play. This is the second time the WNBA has moved the line; in 2004, the league went back from 19 feet, nine inches, the line for amateur women’s basketball, to match what was the FIBA standard at the time.

As WNBA Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations Renee Brown noted in the release announcing the moves, three-point shooting actually went up then, though my analysis found attempts went down. This change is more substantial – 19 inches as compared to seven – but also matches what players are used to when they play overseas or for national teams.

In the short term, I would anticipate both lower three-point percentages and fewer attempts, though I eventually expect the trend toward more three-point shooting to continue. The change will not be felt equally by all players; those that have practiced shooting precisely from the former line could suffer, while players who already like to shoot well beyond the line (I can think of one example) should be just fine.

- For the first time, the WNBA will enforce a defensive three-second rule like the one the NBA enacted when zone defenses were legalized in 2001. The implication here is obvious: In presumptive No. 1 pick Brittney Griner, the WNBA is getting a presence in the paint unlike any before in league history, with the possible exception of the late Margo Dydek. For most centers, camping out under the rim hasn’t proven effective, even within zones, which is why the league has never had a rule. Griner could be the exception that forces the rule.

The other thing worth watching is how this affects teams like the Storm that use help-heavy defensive systems while playing man-to-man defense. Brian Agler’s defense asks weak-side defenders to be in the paint to provide help. They’ll now have to make sure they either stay no longer than three seconds or are within arm’s reach of an offensive player, which could require a bit of an adjustment.

- Lastly, the league will follow the NBA’s lead in cracking down on flopping. So far, the results seem to be nothing but positive, with a little less acting – at least of the egregious variety – going on. No complaints here, as with expanding the use of replay to determine the severity of flagrant fouls.

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Happy 12-12-12

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

… from the Storm and Edna Campbell, Belinda Snell and Ann Wauters. (Apologies to Tonya Massaline, the other No. 12 in franchise history.)

Credits: Otto Greule/Getty Images Sport (L), Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE/Getty Images (C/R)

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Gala Bounces Back

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

A week after UMMC Ekaterinburg pulled out a 71-70 road win over Galtasaray in a clash of undefeated Group C powers with Storm players on their rosters, Ekaterinburg (6-0) had the week off from EuroLeague action. That allowed Galta to pull even in the win category at 6-1 with a 77-50 blowout of Novi Zagreb.

Ann Wauters played just 21 minutes as her team cruised, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds. Sancho Lyttle’s double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds paced four players in double figures.

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Abrosimova Debuts for Dynamo

Monday, December 10th, 2012

After joining her new Russian team at the start of December, Svetlana Abrosimova saw her first action for Dynamo Moscow (5-2) in Sunday’s 88-68 win over Nadezhda. Abrosimova started and had six points, five rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes. She complemented Dynamo’s high-scoring trio of Crystal Langhorne (22 points), Nadezhda Grishaeva (17) and Kristi Toliver (16). Next, Dynamo will try to come from behind in a two-game aggregate Eighth-Final series in the EuroCup after falling 55-54 to Tarbes at home. Dynamo can still advance with a win on Thursday, but must do so in France.

Elsewhere in Russia, undefeated UMMC Ekaterinburg (7-0) got a surprisingly tough test from Dinamo Kursk before winning 77-66 despite Epiphanny Prince’s 35 points in the losing effort. Diana Taurasi led the way with 22 points for Ekaterinburg, which got a nice run from Ewelina Kobryn off the bench. Kobryn had four points and five rebounds in just 13 minutes.

AUSTRALIA

Rough weekend for the Canberra Capitals, who were swamped 96-50 by Sydney Uni on Friday to slip to 5-7 without Lauren Jackson. April Sykes of the L.A. Sparks led the rout with 29 points on 11-of-13 shooting, featuring three triples. Brigette Ardossi, with 21 points and nine rebounds, was the only Caps player to score double digits.

CHINA

While the WCBA’s attention was on the anticipated first showdown between Liz Cambage and Maya Moore, Camille Little helped Shanghai above .500 (7-6) with Saturday’s 79-63 win over Bayi. Little had 18 points and nine rebounds, drawing nine fouls. Moore (53) and Cambage (49) combined for more than 100 points, but Cambage’s team got the win to move within a game of first place.

ISRAEL

Herbalife Ramat Hasharon crushed Elizur Holzon 108-64 on Monday to improve to 3-2. Alysha Clark had 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers, and added five rebounds. Alexis Gray-Lawson paced Hasharon with 26 points as five players reached double-figures in the lopsided win.

KOREA

Behind 22 points and 10 rebounds from Tina Thompson, Woori Hansae rolled to a 67-51 win over Bichumi on Sunday, bouncing back from a loss to KB Stars on Thursday and staying on top of the WKBL standings at 13-4.

TURKEY

Galatasaray (7-1) keeps on rolling. On Saturday, Gala dispatched of Canik Belediye by a 71-56 final. Ann Wauters finished with 12 points and four rebounds, taking a bit of a step back on offense with the return of Sylvia Fowles (10 points, six boards) from a leg injury. A balanced Galatasaray attack featured five double-figure scorers, including Sancho Lyttle (14 points, 12 rebounds).

Homend Antakya fell to 3-5 with a tough 82-76 loss to Kayseri Kaski. Shekinna Stricklen scored 19 points in defeat. Antakya still has a good opportunity to advance in EuroCup play after toppling Chevakata 79-61 at home in last week’s first leg of the two-game aggregate series.

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Jackson Honored by Women’s Health Australia

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012

Lauren Jackson is still rehabbing a back injury, but she was able to put her workout regimen aside yesterday for the I Support Women in Sport Awards, sponsored by Women’s Health Australia. Jackson was one of several Aussie stars honored. The magazine named Jackson the 2012 Leadership Legend on the strength of her play on the court and her support of women’s rights. Jackson tweeted about the special night:

CHINA

Shanghai (6-5) went on the road to defeat Henan 76-72 Saturday behind 32 points and eight rebounds from Camille Little, who went to the free throw line 15 times, making 12. Little got the best of San Antonio’s Jayne Appel, who finished with 28 points and 16 boards.

KOREA

Asia-Basket.com named Tina Thompson Player of the Week for Round 14 in the WKBL. Thompson earned the honor with 25 points and 10 rebounds in Woori Hansae’s 68-65 win Monday over KB Stars. With the win, Woori (12-3) is now first in the league. Thompson is averaging 18.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in five games since arriving in Korea.

TURKEY

Galatasaray moved to 6-1 in TBBL play by knocking off Adana Botas 67-54 on Saturday. Ann Wauters led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds. Sancho Lyttle had 14 points and five rebounds. Courtney Paris had eight points and nine rebounds for Botas.

Homend Antakya snapped a slump with a 68-56 victory over Samsun Basketball. Shekinna Stricklen did not play, but four Antakya players scored double figures, including 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for Jana Vesela and 14 points for Jolene Anderson.

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