ODU's Lewis, Richmond's Oliver leave Israeli team; VCU's Hurt remains

And then there was one.

Three of LadySwish's own -- Courtney Hurt, Abby Oliver and Tia Lewis -- as we reported earlier were set to play for Elizur Netanya in Israel. Netanya is a bustling resort city, about 18 miles from Tel Aviv -- and 63 miles from Gaza, which has been part of a bombing campaign that has made international headlines.

Richmond's Oliver has left the country, citing on her Twitter, "I came home from Israel due to the situation there," and Old Dominion's Lewis is also no longer on the team.

VCU's Hurt, who scored 20 points in her professional debut this week, opted to stay.

"Netanya is a real safe area in Israel, and today a ceasefire was announced, so hopefully everything will settle down," Hurt says. "My coaches and their families are still in Netanya, and that assured me a little bit about the situation. My coaches have children of their own and would never risk their lives or the lives of their athletes. I am still taking it day by day, as this is a serious situation. I'm just so grateful that I am not near Gaza and haven't had to be directly involved in any of the bombing and missiles."

Elizur Netanya has signed Maurita Reid (Miami), Chastity Reed (Arkansas-Little Rock) and Porsha Phillips (Georgia) to replace the departed players; Notre Dame's Charel Allen also left.

Hurt says she plans to spend Thanksgiving preparing a meal with her new teammates.

"I have three new teammates, so building chemistry is a must," she says. "I am the only rookie now."

We wish Hurt the best and will continue to follow her pro career that is off to a great start. We'll also try to catch up with Tia and Abby to find out what's next for both.

ODU's Tia Lewis suits up for pro career in Israel

How do you spell Lewis in Hebrew? Check out Tia Lewis' new uniform above. The former Old Dominion star is in Israel, beginning her professional career with Elitzur Netanya. Her teammates include VCU's Courtney Hurt and Richmond's Abby Oliver. Games begin Nov. 5. LadySwish wishes them all a successful season!

VCU's Hurt, Richmond's Shafer, JMU's Brooks top All-LadySwish team

The 2011-12 All-LadySwish Team

Courtney Hurt, LadySwish Player of Year

Michael Shafer

Player of the Year: Courtney Hurt, VCU
22 ppg, 12 rpg, 639 points this season, .461 FG percentage
The prolific Rams senior followed up arguably the best individual season in program history as a junior with a nearly identical campaign in her final year. Will leave VCU as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Coach of the Year: Michael Shafer, Richmond/Kenny Brooks, JMU
Given the Spiders' heavy graduation losses and extreme youth, we had this team penciled in for about 12-14 wins this season. Atlantic 10 coaches seemed to agree, as Richmond was picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll. The Spiders promptly reeled off 22 victories and nabbed the No. 4 seed - and a first-round bye - in the A-10 Tournament. Good thing Shafer doesn't listen to the "experts."

Meanwhile, all Brooks did was overcome the graduation losses of CAA all-time leading scorer Dawn Evans, All-CAA post Lauren Jimenez and key contributors Courtney Hamner and Jalissa Taylor and manage the Dukes to essentially the same level of success they enjoyed the previous two seasons that ended with trips to the NCAA Tournament. We hate ties when it comes to postseason honors. But in our view, Shafer and Brooks were equally outstanding. We really couldn't split this baby.


First team:

Jericka Jenkins, Sr., G Hampton
13.8 ppg, 7.4 apg, 55 steals, .833 FT percentage
  - Division I assists leader and Hampton's little engine that can has the Lady Pirates poised for a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Abby Oliver, Sr., G Richmond
17.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .940 FT percentage (No. 1 NCAA)
  - That the ultra-competitive Oliver would step up her on-court game was a given. But the first-team All-Atlantic 10 performer may have even surprised herself with her effectiveness as the team's leader.
Ariana Moorer, Sr., G Virginia
13.8 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.7 spg
  - The rare dymanic scorer on the defensive-oriented Cavaliers who extended her value by displaying point-guard skills after the season-ending injury to China Crosby.
Taleia Moton, Sr., G, George Mason
20.7 ppg; 4 rpg; .449 FG percentage; scored 600 points this season
 - Imagine the Patriots offense without Moton's uncanny ability to produce points in bunches. Scary thought, isn't it?
Tia Lewis, Sr., F, ODU
16.5 ppg, 9 ppg, .489 FG percentage
Like Richmond's Oliver, Lewis had no choice but to step into a leadership vacuum but has flourished in the role.


Second team

Tarik Hislop, Jr., G, JMU
14.7 ppg. 3.7 apg, 1.6 spg
  - Don't look at her numbers, particularly those shooting percentages. Look instead at who has the ball in her hands with the game on the line. Then look at the results.
Andrea Barbour, Sr., G, VCU
16.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 71 steals, .423 FG percentage
  - As pure a scorer as you'll find in this state - or any state, for that matter.
Nikki Newman, Jr., F, JMU:
5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.3 bpg
 - Self-made defensive ace who can guard any position and has been Kryptonite to several of the league's superstars.
Avery Warley, Sr., C, Liberty
12.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 46 blocks, .582 FG percentage
  - U.S. Pan Am Games team member whose ability to corral rebounds is rivaled only by VCU's Hurt.
Choicetta McMillian, Sr., G, Hampton
14.2 ppg, 37.4 mpg; 4.5 rpg; 59 steals, .841 FT percentage
  - Three-point shooting ace who has broken open several game for the Lady Pirates this season.


Third team

Monet Tellier, Soph., G, Virginia Tech
13.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, .427 FG percentage
  - Given the competition, Tellier's 31-point explosion against Maryland may have been the finest individual effort by any state player this season.
Devon Brown, Jr., F, Liberty
17.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .54 steals, .438 FG percentage
  - That Brown was able to turn in another terrific season is particularly remarkable given the tragic death of her mother last November.
Whitney Long, Sr., G, Norfolk State
 - Spartans sharpshooter has been particularly potent down the stretch and has led NSU to its best season in years.
Da'Naria Erwin Spencer, Jr., G, Radford:
17.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 68 steals, .454 FG percentage
  - Is poised to become only the fourth Highlander to crack the school's all-time Top 10 in points, assists and steals - and she's only a junior.
Emily Correal, Jr., F, W&M
13.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 27 blocks
  - Tenacious rebounder and low-post scoreer. An extremely close call for this spot between Correal and her teammate Janine Aldridge.

All-Rookie Team

Ashley Betz White, ODU: 7.9 ppg, 3.6 apg; started all 30 games
Reagan Miller, Liberty: 9.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 115 assists, started all 29 games
Toia Giggetts, JMU: 4.3 ppg, .421 FG percentage
Christina Carter, VCU: 4.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 24 starts
Ayana Avery, Radford: 6.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, .867 FG percentage


Most improved:
Kirby Burkholder, JMU: 10.5 ppg, scored 304 points this season (vs. 31 last season)
Runner up: Taleia Moton, GMU: 20.7 ppg (12.2 ppg last season)

Results to celebrate:
Virginia 69, Tennessee 64: Cavs record first win over a top three team since 2000
George Mason 56, Drexel 51: Patriots defeat Dragons for the first time since 2003
James Madison 60, Middle Tennessee 46: Only one of five losses for the Raiders, unbeaten in the Sun Belt
Old Dominion 81, Hofstra 79 -- Lady Monarchs knock off Pride in New York
Norfolk State 84, Delaware State 66 -- Spartans break five-year losing streak in MEAC road games
Longwood 59, Air Force 48: Lancers win in Colorado Springs break year-long losing mark on road
William and Mary 83, Old Dominion 80: Break futility of 52-game losing streak dating back to 1976
Hampton 46, Florida A&M 43: Pirates win defensive battle to take top spot in the MEAC
Virginia Tech 75, No. 7 Maryland 69: Hokies pull off ACC stunner
VCU 76, Hofstra 60: Huge second half lifts Rams over high-octane Hofstra
Liberty 73, High Point 65: Lady Flames take over top spot in Big South
Radford 66, High Point 61: Highlanders hand Panthers first conference loss


Best use of Twitter:

Kenny Brooks: Sample of his candor: Getting a haircut is always an educational experience for me...
Richmond SID Rachel Park: Does anybody tweet more detail during a game?

Richmond squeaks past VCU

Best game: Richmond 78, VCU 77

VCU led by eight with less than five minutes to play, but Abby Oliver jumper ignited a 9-0 run. Andrea Barbour's free throws put VCU back in front, but Oliver scored four straight for the 17th and final lead change. Courtney Hurt brought the Rams within a point and a Richmond turnover gave VCU one more chance that turned into three more chances, but the shots didn't fall, as the Spiders survived in this classic.


Biggest upset: Virginia Tech 75, No. 7 Maryland 69
Hokies hadn't beaten a top eight team since 1998, and they won this game in College Park. Monet Tellier amassed 31, connecting on five 3-pointers and 10-of-11 free throws. Aerial Wilson scored 15, Porschia Hadley, 14 and Alyssa Fenyn, while LaTorri Hines-Allen nabbed nine rebounds.

Biggest nonconference upset: Virginia 69, No. 3 Tennessee 64
The Cavs scored 24 points off 27 turnovers with Chelsea Shine pacing five players in double figures with 18 points. This was Virginia's first win over a top 3 foe since 2000.

Website kudos: 
William and Mary's brilliant 20-question series lets us learn all about the Tribe (Kaitlyn Mathieu hates cold pizza; Jaclyn McKenna wants to skydive; Taylor Hilton is a DJ in her spare time, etc)
Liberty blog: Players and coaches take turn giving us insights; Love LaKendra Washington's Pranks! post
Virginia's Amy Mulligan does a great job of providing post game quotes and info and we love "Inside the Huddle."

W&M's Pye, Correal, Willems, Mathieu, McKenna

Road trip we wish we were on: W&M in NYC in December


Milestones:


Avery Warley becomes Liberty's all-time leading rebounder
Carey Green wins No. 300
Abby Oliver, 1,000-point club
Da'Naria Erwin Spencer, 1,000-point club
Whitney Long, 1,000-point club
Tarik Hislop, 1,000-point club
Choicetta McMillian, 1,000-point club
Tia Lewis, 1,000-point club, 1,000 rebounds
Tia Lewis passes Adrienne Goodson for 11th on ODU's all-time scoring list
Taleia Moton, 600 points, single-season record
Jericka Jenkins, 593 assists, second all-time at HU
Longwood joining Big South in 2012-12
Taysha Pye, graduates as W&M's second-leading scorer (1,647 points) and free-throw shooter (683)
Katherine DeHenzel, set single-season assist mark (168) at W&M
Janine Aldridge, her nine 3-pointers set a single-game record; her 89 treys is a single-season record and her 218 3-pointers is the all-time career record at W&M



Did we miss something? Let us know!

A few minutes with Richmond's Abby Oliver

Throughout her first three seasons at Richmond, Spiders sharpshooter Abby Oliver was content to leave the vocal leadership to the other guys. But now there are no other guys - Although redshirt juniors Sam and Rachael Bilney match her in time in the program, Oliver is the lone senior on a squad with six sophomores and five freshmen. As she gears up for her final season, Oliver talked about Richmond's new breed and her role in getting the newcomers up to speed.

First of all, just want to say that we love your name. Abby Oliver. Great jock name. Really rolls off the tongue. Do you have a nickname?

Not really. Sometimes, Sam Bilney calls me Abigail.

Do you mind?

It's OK. I prefer Abby.

So do we. Now, about being a team leader....

Well, it feels kind of weird being the only senior. But I really just need to lead by example, be someone (the underclassmen) can look up to, someone to show them how things are done. Help them with the concepts. Because we're going to really need to rely on those guys.

It wasn't that long ago that you were a freshman. What do you remember about adjusting?

Well, I played point guard, and when Kara (Powell) got hurt I had to learn to play right away. The hardest thing for me was handling the pressure up front and calling out the play at the same time, timing it so you could get the team into the offense. Wasn't easy.

Let's play word association with the Spiders freshman. I'll name a player, you give me the first word that pops into your head. Start with Liz Brown.

Crazy.

Hmmm... How 'bout Amber Battle?

Dancer.

Yazmean Burgess?

Quiet.

Miah Register?

Uh.....

We'll get back to her. How 'bout Kerri Soppe?

Quiet, but she can surprise you with some of the things she says. She'll just come out of nowhere with something that's funny.

That's way too many words.

OK, funny. Surprisingly funny.

Two words, but we'll take that. Now, back to Miah....

How 'bout "tough."

Perfect. Now you've got to explain that "crazy" for Liz Brown.

She likes to dance and sing...she's just one of those teammates that makes you laugh.

Sounds like a fun group. But how much basketball talent are we talking about?

A lot of talent. Liz has surprised me a lot. She's a great rebounder and will spread the floor. Miah's a good point guard that will be aggressive and attack. Kerri's a really good shooter and knows a lot about the game. Yaz, she has a lot of good post moves and just needs to learn to have more confidence in herself and use those moves. Amber is a post with a great outside shot. Overall, I've been really impressed with them.

OK, now what about you. Is Abby Oliver bringing anything new to the floor this season?

I've been working a lot on attacking off the dribble, trying to get my own shot. I'm working on stepbacks, coming off screens and shooting right away...pump fake, jab step and getting by your defender. Things like that.

Give us one thing Coach (Michael) Shafer says all the time.

This year, he's always saying "We can do more than we think we can do." 

What's your best Richmond basketball memory?

My freshman year, when we went deep into the Atlantic 10 tournament. In the (semifinals) we beat Dayton, came from like 19 down. That was great.

Same thing happened last year at Duquesne. The Spiders have played a lot of exciting games during your time there, and have won more than their share. So how come more fans don't come to see you play?

Good question. If I knew the answer to that.... I'd love to get more fans in here. Especially students.

You've been described as a gym rat, an extremely hard worker who puts a ton of time into hoops. True?

True.

So tell me three things you like to do that have nothing to do with basketball.

Let's see. I like spending time with family and friends. I love watching all sports - basketball, of course, but I also love football. Besides the Richmond Spiders I'm a big UNC fan. My father (Dick Oliver) played there and my brother went there, so I've always liked the Tar Heels. And I love going to the beach.

Still friends with any of your high school teammates from those great Hidden Valley teams?

Oh, yeah. I stay in touch with Abby Redick, Kylee Beecher, Kayla Osborne, Amanda Crotty, Abby Boggs. We had three Abbys on the team my junior year.

Finally, a lot of people on the outside are going to figure Richmond lost Brittani (Shells) and Crystal (Goring) and have all these kids, so it's probably going to be a tough year. You're on the inside. What does it look like from there?

Well, when people talk about inexperience, they see a lot of negatives. To me, I see a lot of positives. We're really talented, and having fresh faces, I think, will be good for us. And just because you're young, it doesn't mean you're going to have a bad year. I remember Rutgers in 2007. They had no seniors and five freshmen and went all the way to the (NCAA) final. I think we're really going to surprise people.