World U17 update: U.S. rolls over Spain in quarterfinals

Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne High) had 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks to help the U.S. torch Spain 86-57 Friday at the U17 World Championships in France. Next up: China in Saturday's semifinals.

Virginia: Erinn Thompson eager to return to court

Virginia forward Erinn Thompson, who played in just three games before a fractured tibia ended her season, told the Charlottesville Daily Progress the toughest part was being unable to help All-American Monica Wright as the Cavaliers flamed out in the postseason.

“During the N.C. State game in the ACC tournament and our game against Green Bay in the NCAA tournament, I kept looking at Moni — and that was when my injury was almost over with — and I could have done something in those games. I would have done anything to save Moni’s career for another two games. They were some of the hardest games that I have watched in a very long time.”

Virginia Tech: Fenyn leads way at Empire State Games

Virginia Tech rising sophomore Alyssa Fenyn scored a team-high 20 points to lead her Western squad past Hudson Valley 77-60 to kick off open women's basketball play at the retooled Empire State Games Thursday at Niagara University. Founded in 1978 as the nation's first state games, the Empire showcase saw its wildly successful run interrupted last year when the games were canceled due to budget cuts. 

Fenyn, who earned ACC All-Academic Team honors last season, is an Empire State Games veteran as she helped Western win a gold medal in the scholastic division in 2007. That team also featured Shenise Johnson, who last season earned first-team All-ACC honors as a sophomore at Miami, and Joelle Connelly, who transferred from Hofstra midway through last season and will now attend Temple.

This year, Fenyn is one of three Division I players on the Western team, along with Megan Shoniker (Rhode Island) and Liz Flooks (Niagara). Shoniker had 19 points in the win over Hudson Valley.

The basketball tournament continues through Sunday's noon gold medal game.

Wednesday's national team updates

Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth Williams went 7-for-7 from the field during a 16-point, 8-rebound performance during the United States' 133-71 flogging of Japan in the World U17 Championships in France. Why such a large spread? The Americans' 66-27 rebounding advantage may have had something to do with it. The U.S. concluded group play with a 5-0 mark and will and face Spain (2-3) in Friday's quarterfinals.

Prior to Wednesday's game, Williams chatted briefly with FIBA.com about the U.S. team. As interviews go, this one is about as shallow as the lyrics to Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." But we'll pass it along just the same.

European U20 B Championships

Talk about a one-woman team. Macedonia's Jelena Antic (Liberty) scored 23 of her team's 41 points in a 72-41 loss to Hungary that dropped the host squad to 0-4. Antic continues to lead all players with 25 ppg and 12 rpg. Macedonia will face Belgium in a 9th-place game on Thursday. Friday's quarterfinals: Great Britain (featuring ODU's Mairi Buchan and Becca Allison) vs. Israel; Czech Republic vs. Greece; Slovak Republic vs. Hungary and Portugal vs. Belgium.

Central American and Caribbean Championships

The Virgin Islands pummeled St. Vincent and the Grenadines 80-44 to advance to the medal round. Victoria Hamilton (Radford) chipped in 6 points for the winners. Stacy Griffith (UDC, ex-VCU), is also representing the Virgin Islands.

Tuesday's national team update

European U20 B Championships

 - Macedonia's Jelena Antic (Liberty) had 26 points and 18 rebounds in a 64-63 loss to Belgium. Antic leads the tournament with 25.7 ppg and 14 rpg through three games. It was the second straight one-point loss for Macedonia (0-3), which is hosting the tournament.

- Great Britain's Mairi Buchan (Old Dominion) had 12 points and 6 rebounds and Becca Allison (Old Dominion) added 9 points and 6 steals in a 72-58 loss to the Czech Republic. The loss was Great Britain's first in four games; the Czech Republic improved to 4-0. Buchan is averaging 25.0 minutes, 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in the tournament. Allison's numbers: 19 minutes, 5.8 points, 2.5 steals and 1.0 assist.

Central America and Caribbean Games

- Jamaica (1-1) fell to the Dominican Republic 72-62 despite a 19-point, 15-rebound effort from Simone Edwards (George Mason assistant coach). Angelee LaTouche (George Mason) added 4 points and 7 rebounds in a 29-minute stint for Jamaica.

- Victoria Hamilton (Radford) had 4 points and 5 rebounds for the Virgin Islands (1-1) in an 82-55 loss to host Puerto Rico 82-55.

U17 World Championships

Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne High) scored 8 points in an 82-55 rout of Turkey as the United States (4-0) locked up a spot in the quarterfinals while remaining the only unbeaten team in the tournament. The U.S. will conclude pool play on Wednesday against Japan. Williams leads the U.S. with 13.0 ppg and 8.2 rpg despite averaging just over 18 minutes per game.

George Mason: Too bad Simone Edwards is out of eligibility

Simone Edwards

Angelee LaTouche

So what if she'll turn 37 in November? Former University of Iowa star, WNBA champion and current George Mason assistant Simone Edwards is still a baller. Edwards proved she's still got game last week by averaging 17 points and a tournament-best 11.2 rebounds per game in leading her native Jamaica to a silver medal at the Centrobasket Championship for Women in Puerto Rico.  

Patriots senior Angelee LaTouche (17 points, 19 rebounds in 5 games) also represented Jamaica, which defeated the Virgin Islands, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago before falling to Puerto Rico in the title game.

On Monday, Jamaica opened play in the Central American and Caribbean Games (also in Puerto Rico) with a 63-56 victory over Guatemala. Jamaica will face the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.

Liberty: Antic on fire at Euro U20 B Championships

Her Macedonia team may be still looking for its first win, but Liberty University's Jelena Antic has been a dominating individual force through two games of the European U20 B Championships. Antic leads the tournament with 25.5 points and 12 rebounds per game and is second among all players with 4.5 assists. One can only imagine how much Antic will score if her 3-point shot starts falling. Liberty's rising sophomore is 0-11 from long distance so far in the tournament.

Antic scored 26 points in Macedonia's 71-62 loss to the Czech Republic on Saturday, then dropped 25 on Great Britain in a 70-69 defeat on Sunday. Macedonia will continue pool play on Monday against Belgium.

It's a good thing Antic is staying sharp, because the way Liberty's schedule is shaping up, the Flames are going to need all the practice they can get. On Nov. 22, the Flames will travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M, the defending Big 12 champion. Four days later, Liberty heads to Waco to face Baylor, a 2010 Final Four team featured 6-8 force-of-nature Brittney Griner.

ODU lands point guard

Ashley Betz-White

Looks like Old Dominion's point guard concerns have been addressed - for 2011 and beyond.

ODU: Allison to start for Great Britain?

Hate to turn this site into the PR firm for the Scottish wing of the Old Dominion roster, but according to this report, Lady Monarchs redshirt freshman Becca Allison may have worked her way into the starting lineup as Great Britain begins play in the Women's Euro B Under-20 Championships beginning Friday in Austria.

Richmond: 10 days, 5 cities, one team

Richmond will embark on a four-game 10-day Scandinavian tour through Sweden and Norway August 10-19. The Spiders will travel to five cities during their stay.

Under NCAA regulations, a team is allowed a foreign trip every four years. In addition, the Spiders will receive 10 practice days to prepare for the tour. The new NCAA ruling will now allow freshmen the opportunity to play.

The overseas roster will include the eight returners from last year's squad plus the 2010 freshmen. Injured reserve Sam Bilney will travel but not play. Brittani Shells and Rachael Bilney will provide a daily blog about the Spiders' stay.