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EuroLeague Round 9 Recap

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euroleage 2Group A:

On Wednesday, Fenerbahce was led by Allie Quigley again as they continued leading the group with a 67-58 win over Good Angels Kosice.  Schio came back in the second half to keep Sopron in last place 75-65.  Villeneuve pulled ahead in the second half to beat Avenida 78-66.  The round finished on Thursday as Nneka Ogwumike carried Dynamo Kursk to a 75-60 win over Galatasaray, pushing them in to second place.  Behind Fenerbahce, four teams are battling for three spots.  The last three teams do not have much momentum, but one will still take the last spot to drop down to the EuroCup quarterfinals.

Good Angels Kosice vs. Fenerbahce 58-67 GAK Langhorne 17/15r Johnson 10 Hruscakova 8 Zirkova 2 FEN Quigley 20 Lavender 16/6r Kobryn 10 Hollingsworth 8 Cakir 3 Canitez 0

Uniqa Sopron vs. Famila Schio 65-75 SOP Crvendakic 17/6r Simon 10 Krnjic 9 SCH Yacoubou 17/13r Walker 14/9r Anderson 12/7r/6a Masciadri 12 Sottana 11 Ress 2

ESBVA-LM vs. Perfumerias Avenida 78-66 ESB Bremont 19/8a Robert 14/7r Podrug 13 Amant 11 Mahoney 5 AVE Marginean 19 Gidden 16/8r Ndour 9 Rodriguez 9 Vitola 4/9r Gemelos 4

Dynamo Kursk vs. Galatasaray 75-60 KUR Ogwumike 30/11r Jekabsone-Zogota 14 Vidmer 11/6r Harding 10 Augustus 6/6a Osipova 4 GAL Loyd 18 Yilmaz 17/6r Kizer 15/7r Martinez 2

Standings:

  1. Fenerbahce 8-1
  2. Dynamo Kursk 6-3
  3. Famila Schio 6-3
  4. Galatasaray 5-4
  5. ESBVA-LM 5-4
  6. Good Angels Kosice 3-6
  7. Perfumerias Avenida 2-7
  8. Uniqa Sopron 1-8

[Read more…]

Israeli Cup Quarterfinals January 7th

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With only 8 top division teams this season, all teams started at the same stage with the same format as usual, single game knockouts to determine a winner.

Games started with a terrific individual battle between Emma Cannon and Alysha Clark, but Clark’s superior supporting cast with Maccabi Ashdod overwhelmed Ramat Hasharon 81-58.  Kayla Thornton and Maccabi Ramat Hen showed that leading the league was not their only goal as they beat Brianna Kiesel and ASA Jerusalem 81-73.  The cup offers another chance to struggling teams, and it was Jamierra Faulkner and Elitzur Holon fending off Ashley Shields and Hapoel Rishon Le-Zion 80-69.  Keisha Hampton and Jasmine Thomas teamed up to lead Bnot Hertzeliya past Brittany Hrynko and Hapoel Petah Tikva 71-63.

Statistics only cover points scored.

January 7, 2016

Ramat Hasharon vs. Maccabi Ashdod 58-81 RAH Cannon 25 Mincy 17 Baron 4 Armstrong 2 Alama 0 ASH Clark 25 Doron 14 Levitsky 12 Wright 8 Plaisance 6 Oliver 5 Presley 5 Selwyn 3 Pelleg 0

Maccabi Ramat Hen vs. ASA Jerusalem 81-73 RAM Thornton 26 Gardner 16 Hopkins 14 Cohen 8 Diamant 7 Shafir 7 Bikofsky 0 ASA Kiesel 22 Taylor 19 Gerson 10 S. Hampton 10 Zimmerman 3 Feder 0

Elitzur Holon vs. Hapoel Rishon Le-Zion 80-69 HOL Faulkner 20 Oren 18 Nyingifa 17 Hassell 15 RIS Shields 24 O’Neill 16 Penn 15

Hapoel Petah Tikva vs. Bnot Hertzeliya 63-71 PET Hrynko 19 Robbins 11 Smith 11 Rothman 6 Assaf 4 Wiseman 0 HER K. Hampton 24 Thomas 21 Snow 10 Suez-Karni 8 Dayan 0

Italian League Round 13

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The first round of the new year marked the halfway point in the regular season in Italy. It started off with Gintare Petronyte leading Napoli past Sesto San Giovanni 71-64.  In the battle for the last spots in the playoffs, Jasmine Bailey helped San Martino beat Umbertide 68-52.  Some of Schio’s stars were rested, allowing Martina Bestagno to take center stage as they beat Orvieto 82-62.  Ragusa eventually pulled away from Venezia for a 70-49 win as they battled to stay in first place.  Yvonne Anderson took the honors as the top scorer of the round after leading Torino past Reshanda Gray and Battipaglia 84-76.  A terrific battle inside saw Sam Ostarello and Vigarano beat Uju Ugoka and Parma 80-67.  The only game that was not on Sunday came on Wednesday, as Jillian Harmon helped Lucca keep pace with the league lead in an 86-70 win over Samantha Prahalis and Cagliari.

January 3, 2016

Sesto San Giovanni vs. Napoli 64-71 SES Mandache 18 Brown 16 Ercoli 10/9r NAP Petronyte 23/18r Pastore 17 Quinn 8/10r Burdick 4

San Martino vs. Umbertide 68-52 SAN Bailey 23/11r Pascalau 13/8r Davis 10 Sbrissa 4 UMB Simmons 17 Agunbiade 8/12r

Orvieto vs. Schio 62-82 ORV Dietrick 16 Wicijowski 12/15r Mancinelli 12 Baldelli 10 SCH Bestagno 22/6r Sottana 15 Walker 13/7r Anderson 13/7r Masciadri 9 Ress 0

Ragusa vs. Venezia 70-49 RAG Little 19/8r Micovic 11 Nadalin 10 Brunson 4/8r VEN Christmas 16/9r Fontenette 7

Battipaglia vs. Torino 76-84 BAT Gray 21/15r Treffers 18/6r Bonasia 12/6r Tagliamento 10 Boyd 6 TOR Anderson 31 Smith 19/12r Sotiriou 14 Puliti 11/6r Mitongu 7/9r

Vigarano vs. Parma 80-67 VIG Ostarello 20/19r Crudo 16 Cigliani 12 Tognalini 11/7r D’Alie 7/7r Orrange 7 PAR Ugoka 19/23r Spreafico 11 Clark 10/7r

January 6, 2016

Cagliari vs. Lucca 70-86 CAG Prahalis 23 Milic 19/8r Benic 12 LUC Harmon 30/6s Reggiani 15 Wojta 12/13r Dotto 11 Pedersen 8 [Read more…]

WNBA Free Agency 2016; New York Liberty

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The New York Liberty did a complete 180 during last season as they won the eastern conference regular season and were the team to beat in the East. After missing the playoffs in 2014, Tina Charles with the help of Epiphanny Prince and some veteran leadership led the Liberty to a 23-11 record and Bill Laimbeer was named WNBA Coach of the Year. After coming close to losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Mystics, the Liberty moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2010. In what was considered an upset to some, the Liberty lost to a very talented and determined Indiana Fever team in the Eastern Conference Finals. A disappointment to many, the Liberty will look forward to suiting back up and redeeming themselves in 2016. Unfortunately, they will have to do a lot of it without one of their star players as Prince recently had knee surgery that will keep her out for at least the first half of the season.

The only restricted free agent on the Liberty’s roster is Carolyn Swords. Swords who spent her entire career in Chicago before coming to New York last offseason provided pretty decent backup minutes to Tina Charles. As Kia Stokes emerged as a huge presence in the post, especially on defense, it seems as though she will be the one to back up Charles moving forward. There aren’t very many players with the size that Swords has so if NY decides not to keep her on their roster there will certainly be other teams that will show interest. It is important that Swords finds a way stay healthy as she missed several crucial games at the end of the season.

The Liberty will have a lot of decisions to make this off season in dealing with their unrestricted free agents. Essence Carson, Swin Cash and Candice Wiggins are all unrestricted free agents. Carson who has spent her entire career with the Liberty has seen her minutes go down the past two seasons after tearing her acl back in 2013. It will be interesting to see what the Liberty will do when it comes to Carson. Seemingly healthy, she only missed one game during the 2015 season and contributed where she could. Carson has great size for her position and has a ton of experience. She will probably check out what interest there is around the league before making a decision but I imagine she would love to continue on with New York as she has been there through the best and the worst of times.

Swin Cash played big minutes for the Liberty and was a key piece in their success this past season. Her leadership showed and she was able to rally her troops to finish the season with the best record in the WNBA. Cash, who has 13 years in the WNBA is still capable of keeping up with the best of them. There have been whispers of retirement as she has a booming career being a sports analyst during the off season, but nothing coming from her says that she is ready to hang it up. Every team needs veteran leadership and Cash definitely brings that in addition to the 11 points and almost 6 rebounds she averaged this past season. Not too shabby for a 36 year old. If Cash decides she wants to continue on, I’m sure the Liberty will be all for having her be apart of their team for 2016 season.

Lastly, Candice Wiggins, who was a newcomer to the Liberty last season is back on the market.  Wiggins didn’t average big minutes for the Liberty but was always a  spark coming off the bench. With the emergence of Sugar Rogers, Wiggins had to take a backseat to the youngster who pretty much had a breakout season. Candice, who is from California may look to head back to the Western Conference, but will probably test the market and see where she fits best.

The Liberty losing Epiphanny  Prince to injury is a big deal as she was the second leading scorer on the team. Her being out will give others an opportunity to step up and prove themselves but she will not be easily replaced. The Liberty will have to find some help for Charles if they want to have the kind of season they had last year. I think the Liberty will make major moves this offseason. Most of their dealings will probably be through free agency as there aren’t many big names coming through the draft. What do you think the Liberty need to do this off season? Who can fill the shoes of Prince? Is Rogers ready to be the copilot to Charles?

 

 

Russian League Round 12

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Russian Basketball FederationMore games from this round were played after the holiday break as teams prepared for European games later in the week.  On Monday, Dynamo Kursk eased past Spartak Noginsk 96-53.  Young Maria Vadeeva led Spartak Moscow to an 86-54 win over Dynamo-GUVD.  On Tuesday, UMMC stomped Kazanochka 91-42 to stay undefeated.

January 4, 2016

Dynamo Kursk vs. Spartak Noginsk 96-53 DYK Ogwumike 18/8r Osipova 18/6r Miyem 15 Augustus 12 Harding 11 Sapova 10 SPN Korotygina 16 Andrianova 10/8r Krivolapova 10

Spartak Moscow vs. Dynamo-GUVD 86-54 SPM Vadeeva 20/17r Kolosovskaia 16 Gladkova 12/7r/6a Meesseman 11/7r DYG Alexander 19/10r Dorovskikh 14 Langlois 8/6r/6a

January 5, 2016

UMMC vs. Kazanochka 91-42 UMMC Gruda 15/8r Torrens 15/6s Cherepanova 15 Griner 11 Nolan 8 Taurasi 7 KAZ Boothe 14/7r Shelton 0

Standings:

  1. UMMC 12-0
  2. Nadezhda 11-1
  3. Dynamo Kursk 10-2
  4. Chevakata 8-3
  5. Spartak Moscow 8-4
  6. Enisey 6-5
  7. MBA 5-7
  8. Spartak Noginsk 3-9
  9. Energia Ivanovo 2-9
  10. Dynamo-GUVD 2-10
  11. Kazanochka 2-10
  12. Dynamo Moscow 1-10

Romanian League Round 12 January 5th

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The rest of this round started after the new year.  Timisoara beat Rapid 69-38, but there was a silver lining for the losers as they finally played enough games to pull out of last place.  Alexandria beat an Arad team that did not have any of its foreigners 100-55 as Elan Brown had a field day.  Gabriela Irimia and Brasov just edged Jelena Antic and Alba Iulia 81-79 as the teams jostle for position at the top of the standings.  Sepsi took advantage of the situation as Shante Evans and Chucky Jeffery got them back into first place with a 93-57 win over Cluj Napoca.

January 5, 2016

Timisoara vs. Rapid 69-38 TIM Dumitrache 18 Grbic 17/8r Lough 9/9r Wilson 8/13r RAP Toma 9 Bejan 7

Alexandria vs. ICIM Arad 100-55 ALE Brown 33/19r Voicu 17 Arnold 10 ARA Manea 16 Mercea 12 Moraru 10

Alba Iulia vs. Brasov 79-81 ALB Antic 23/8r/6a Dyer 18 Webb 13/13r/6a Hadzovic 10/6r/9a BRA Irimia 24 Bartee 18/15r/6a Pesovic 15 Sharpe 13/7r/6a

Sf. Gheorghe vs. Cluj Napoca 93-57 SEP Evans 22/10r Jeffery 22/7r Marshall 13 Parau 10/6a Thompson 8/8r Pierre-Louis 0 CLU Grimes 19 Prlja 10 Wilson 10 King 6 Clark 6 [Read more…]

Chinese League 3rd Stage Round 6 January 5th

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January 5, 2016

A Group:

Beijing repeated the last result with a 75-70 win over Shanghai even though Elizabeth Cambage was not held as firmly in check by Sylvia Fowles.  Another high scoring game at Guangdong went to Xinjiang again, this time 81-80 as Tina Charles and Yelena Leuchanka had another big post battle.

Beijing vs. Shanghai 75-70 BJ Fowles 20/9r Gao 13 SH Cambage 30/17r Huang 18

Guangdong vs. Xinjiang 80-81 GD Leuchanka 27/18r Huang 20 XJ Charles 35/14r Peng 16

Standings: Beijing 5-1, Xinjiang 4-2, Shanghai 3-3, Guangdong 0-6

B Group:

Jin Jiebao and Shenyang came back to beat Shanxi 72-68 to earn a split despite the best efforts of Maya Moore.  Kara Braxton helped Liaoning record their first win of the stage 72-71 to reverse the previous result against Sun Mengran and Bayi.

Shanxi vs. Shenyang 68-72 SN Moore 27/9r Zhou 14 SY Jin 21/8r Liu 16/9r

Liaoning vs. Bayi 72-71 LN Braxton 21/11r Wang 16/6r 81 Sun 21 Lu 15/11r

Standings: Shenyang 5-1, Bayi 3-3, Shanxi 3-3, Liaoning 1-5

C Group:

Chen Xiaojia and Sun Li helped Jiangsu win again at Heilongjiang, this time 96-76.  Another impressive effort from Cheyenne Parker was not enough for Henan as they suffered their first loss of this stage at Shandong 86-83.

Heilongjiang vs. Jiangsu 76-96 HL Zhang 21 Ji 19 JS Chen 25 Sun 23/7r

Shandong vs. Henan 86-83 SD Yang 19/9r Cao 14/6r HA Parker 30/12r Huang 18

Standings: Henan 5-1, Jiangsu 4-2, Shandong 2-4, Heilongjiang 1-5

Life After Basketball; Jessica Davenport

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jessica davenport

TIM JOHNSON | COLUMBUS CEO

You may remember Jessica Davenport from her days at Ohio State where she was a three-time All-American and a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year. Or perhaps you will remember her short stint in New York with the Liberty or her time in Indiana with the Fever. Davenport was drafted 2nd in the 2007 WNBA draft and played for two teams during her six seasons in the league. She also played overseas for several years before deciding to retire in 2014. After struggling with injury, Jessica realized her heart was no longer 100% into the game and that she was ready to let go and pursue other interests.

Like many other WNBA players, life goes on after basketball and once the decision is made to hang up your sneakers its time to figure out whats next if you haven’t already. Luckily for Jessica she had an interest in marketing and after taking a few months off to enjoy family and friends she was offered an internship with a company in Ohio, her home state. This was the first time she was able to spend more than a few months in one place and took the opportunity to explore her interests outside of basketball. After interning, she was able to learn a lot about business and marketing which she used to launch her own business Envy My Tee. [Read more…]

Israeli League Round 12 January 4th

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The most anticipated game of the day was between the top two teams, but Bnot Hertzeliya was without a key player as Maccabi Ramat Hen was able to stay firmly in the lead with a 77-65 win.  Keisha Hampton won the scoring battle, but Kayla Thornton led her team to the victory and Chelsea Hopkins flirted with another triple-double in a battle of brief Duke teammates in the backcourt.  Ramat Hasharon took advantage of the situation by moving into second place with a 73-61 win over ASA Jerusalem.  Maccabi Ashdod jumped into third place with an easy 75-53 win over Hapoel Rishon Le-Zion as they continue to seek a balance with their foreign players to go along with their excellent group of domestic players.  Jillian Robbins and Brittany Hrynko did their best for Hapoel Petah Tikva as they were missing a key player, but Atonye Nyingifa and Jasmine Hassell led a balanced Elitzur Holon team to a 92-73 win and an exit from last place.

January 4, 2016

Maccabi Ramat Hen vs. Bnot Hertzeliya 77-65 RAM Thornton 26/10r Hopkins 14/10r/9a Zairy 14 Gardner 9/6r Diamant 6/8r Cohen 4 Shafir 4 Bikofsky 0 HER K. Hampton 29/6r Thomas 12/10r Suez-Karni 9

ASA Jerusalem vs. Ramat Hasharon 61-73 ASA S. Hampton 19 Taylor 12/19r/7a Katz 11 Gerson 6 Kiesel 5 Zimmerman 3 RAH Baron 13/7r Armstrong 12/14r Mincy 12/8r Gilinski 10 Cannon 7/6r Alama 5

Hapoel Rishon Le-Zion vs. Maccabi Ashdod 53-75 RIS Penn 11 O’Neill 10/6a Shields 7 ASH Levitsky 17/6r Wright 12 Plaisance 11/6r Doron 11 Clark 9/6r Presley 3 Selwyn 2 Oliver 1/7r Pelleg 0

Elitzur Holon vs. Hapoel Petah Tikva 92-73 HOL Nyingifa 21/16r/7a Hassell 21/13r Isseroff 16 Faulkner 14/8r Oren 14/9a PET Robbins 31/10r Hrynko 25 Assaf 7/6r Wiseman 4 Rothman 3 [Read more…]

Turkish League Round 13

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The halfway point in the season has been reached in Turkey, starting with Saturday’s game, which saw Milica Jovanovic lead Botas past cellar dwellers Adana 85-75.  On Sunday, the latest stellar effort from Angel McCoughtry was not enough for Mersin as Natalie Hurst and Hatay left with a 77-72 win.  LaToya Pringle kept Abdullah Gul University in first place with a 70-65 win at Edirnespor.  Natasha Lacy made her usual all-around contributions to lead Samsun to a 79-76 win over Yakin Dogu University.  Nevriye Yilmaz and Jewell Loyd tag-teamed to lead Galatasaray to a 92-50 win over Cappie Pondexter and Besiktas.  Gelistirenler beat Orduspor 80-69 as Tijana Krivacevic and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt could not help pull their team up from the danger zone.  Fenerbahce stayed in second place easily after blowing out Istanbul University 94-48.

January 2, 2016

Botas vs. Adana Aski 85-75 BOT Jovanovic 25 Warley 16/11r Maltsi 12/6r/6a Bilgic 12/8a Moss 9 ADA Nacickaite 17/7r Kartaltepe 17/9a De Souza 13/8r Palazoglu 12 Campbell 7/11r Zahui B 3

January 3, 2016

Mersin vs. Hatay 72-77 MER McCoughtry 33/10r/6s Henry 13 Hartley 10 Kuzina 5/8r HAT Hurst 23/7a Snytsina 17/7r Turner 14 Vajda 10/7r Paris 8/15r Tanacan 2

Edirnespor vs. Abdullah Gul Universitesi 65-70 EDI Dolson 18/7r Jovanovic 18/7r Malashenko 11 AGU Sanders 32 Gray 9 Mazic 5

Samsun Canik Belediye vs. Yakin Dogu Universitesi 79-76 SAM Lacy 19/7r/10a Carson 18 Teilane 12/10r Cigil 11 YDU Bone 18/9r Dabovic 16 Thomas 15/15r Hayes 15/7r

Galatasaray vs. Besiktas 92-50 GAL Yilmaz 21/11r Loyd 21 Koksal 10 Caglar 10 Martinez 5 BES Pondexter 19 Milovanovic 12

Gelistirenler vs. Orduspor 80-69 GEL Eksi 18 Vandersloot 17/8a Bentley 16/9r Abdi 12/12r Rezan 12/7r Newlin 2/6r ORD Krivacevic 25/7r Ruffin-Pratt 21/7r Eldebrink 15/6a

Istanbul Universitesi vs. Fenerbahce 48-94 IU Cado 18 Mircheva 10 White 3 FEN Hollingsworth 17/6r Cakir 11 Canitez 9/6r Quigley 9 Lavender 7 Kobryn 6/7r [Read more…]