George Mason releases non-conference schedule

So what if it's not the most rugged slate? When last year's 10-20 season actually represents significant progress, what's the point of calling up UConn and Baylor? A manageable series of opponents is what's called for, and that's just what Patriots coach Jeri Porter has assembled. Eight of the 11 non-conference opponents finished the 2009-10 season with losing records, including all six of the squads Mason will play at home. Granted, there's no guarantee these will all be sub-.500 teams again. But it seems to us this schedule has at least 7-8 wins written all over it.

But hey, Coach, no pressure.

Fenyn sizes up the low post

If Virginia Tech needs some emergency help at center this season, rising sophomore guard Alyssa Fenyn will be happy to pitch in. OK, maybe "happy" is a little strong. But at least she now has the experience.

Antic named MVP at Euro U20s

Her team won just one game and finished ninth in a 10-team tournament. But that didn't stop Macedonia's Jelena Antic (Liberty) from garnering MVP honors in last week's European U20 Division B Championships. Antic led all players in scoring (25.0 ppg) and rebounding (12.3 rpg) and led Macedonia in, well, everything.

Antic was also named the tournament's best forward by Eurobasket.com while Great Britain's Becca Allison (Old Dominion) was tabbed the best guard. Antic and Allison were both first-team all-tournament picks; Great Britain's Mairi Buchan - the leading scorer and rebounder on the championship team - was somehow relegated to a second-team choice.

ODU's Buchan savoring "best moment in my career"

If you've followed Ladyswish in the last couple weeks -- and surely you have -- you already know about Old Dominion's Mairi Buchan leading the Great Britain National Team to its first Division B title. The Brits edged Slovakia 47-46 at the U20 European Championships in Kavadarci, Macedonia.

Lady Monarch junior Buchan, whose new Facebook profile pic is above, had a fantastic tournament, scoring 13 points in the final, and her ODU teammate Becca Allison pulled down a team-best nine rebounds in the game. Great Britain, which has only played Division B at the women's and men's U20 level since 2006, allowed just 14 points in the first half. The victory means they will play in Division A next summer and who knows? Buchan, who averaged 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, just might be part of the Brits' Olympic team in 2012, and remember, The Games are in London.

For now, Buchan is cherishing the championship in Macedonia.

"It is definitely the best moment in my career so far, especially because no other Great Britain team, senior or age-group, has ever won gold before," she said. "It was an fantastic feeling to win and it was great to know that all of the hard work in the months after our season at ODU had paid off. I couldn't have asked for a better team to play with or a better coaching staff to play under. Just had a great time overall and wish I could relive the final all over again!"

We're hoping all that experience will pay off when Buchan returns to Norfolk for Lady Monarch season.

Bum knee? What bum knee?

Victoria Hamilton

The bad news: Radford rising sophomore Victoria Hamilton suffered an ACL sprain during the Virgin Islands' bronze-medal game against Jamaica Friday during the Central American and Caribbean Games.

The good news: Hamilton didn't let it stop her from nearly shooting her team back in it. Jamaica took the bronze with a 69-58 victory. But judging from the way Hamilton performed after her injury, it appears as though the knee will be just fine.

Williams, U.S. downs France for U17 gold

Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne) had 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks as the United States overwhelmed France 92-62 for the gold medal at the U17 World Championships in France.

Williams finished the tournament with team-leading averages of 13.5 ppg and 7.6 rpg and was second among U.S. players and third overall with 2.0 blocks per game. The Cavaliers rising senior also had the second-highest field-goal percentage (61.8) in the tournament.

We are the champions!

Mairi Buchan (Old Dominion) had 13 points and 8 rebounds and Becca Allison added 7 points and 9 rebounds as Great Britain nipped the Slovak Republic 47-46 for the gold medal at the European U20 B Championships in Macedonia.

By simply reaching the final the team became Great Britain's first age-group squad to qualify for the top level of European hoops. Great Britain will play in the A Division next year. And with Sunday's victory, they became Great Britain's first age-group team to clinch a FIBA Europe title.

For the tournament, Buchan led her team in points (10.7) and rebounds (7.7) while Allison paced Great Britain in assists (1.7) and steals (2.3). Allison's steals average was the 7th-highest in the tournament. Buchan ranked seventh overall in rebounding.

Saturday's team results

Great Britain's women's basketball no longer fields a "B" team.

Mairi Buchan (Old Dominion) scored a team-high 10 points and added eight points while her Lady Monarchs teammate Becca Allison notched 8 points as Great Britain spanked Portugal  59-40 to advance to the gold-medal game at the European U20 B Championships Saturday in Macedonia. With the victory, Great Britain earned a promotion to the A Division for next season. Great Britain will face the Slovak Republic in Sunday's title game.

Macedonia's Jelena Antic (Liberty) closed out her tournament with 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 78-60 victory over Austria in a 9th-place game at the European U20 B Championships. Antic was the tournament's leading scorer (25.0) and rebounder (12.3) and was remarkably consistent with her production. Her point totals for her six games - 26, 25, 26, 23, 25 and 25.

Simone Edwards (George Mason assistant) had 20 points and Angelee LaTouche (George Mason) added 8 as Jamaica took the bronze medal with a 69-58 victory over the Virgin Islands at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico. Earlier in July, the Patriots duo helped Jamaica earn a silver medal at the Centrobasket Championships.

Alyssa Fenyn (Virginia Tech) is averaging 17.7 ppg through three contests in the women's open division at the Empire State Games. Fenyn scored 20 points for her Western team in Saturday's 71-68 loss to Central. Western is now 2-1 at the Games. The tournament concludes Sunday with medal rounds.

Williams, U.S. advance to final at U17 Worlds

Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne High) survived a blow to one of her eyes to finish with 14 points and 11 rebounds to help the U.S. wear down China 97-74 in the semifinals of the U17 World Championships Saturday in France. The Americans will face either France or Belgium in Sunday's championship game.

Williams sustained her injury with 2:43 left in the first half and had to leave the game, but she returned to help the U.S fight off a game challenge from the Chinese. Thanks to some deadly 3-point shooting, China trailed by just six points at halftime and seven through three quarters. The U.S. outscored China 24-8 in the fourth quarter. The Princess Anne rising senior wound up playing a tournament-high 25 minutes.

Through seven tournament games, Williams is averaging 13.3 points - second on the team to Breanna Stewart's 13.4 - and a team-best 8 rebounds.

New Virginia Union coach has familiar name

Barvenia Wooten-Collier

Barvenia Wooten-Collier, who had 25 points and 16 rebounds for Virginia Union in the 1983 Division II championship game, has returned to her alma mater as the head coach of the now-struggling program. Her first step - to erase the feeling of apathy she feels has permeated Union basketball in recent years.

"I get the feeling that the players, right now, think of basketball as just another thing they have to do," Wooten-Collier said. "I don't see excitement and enthusiasm. I want these kids to understand that the opportunity to play basketball at Virginia Union is a gift. I don't want them to be content merely to play. I want them to perform."

Vicki Collier

Wooten-Collier's daughter, Vicki Collier, just finished an injury-plagued career at Old Dominion and graduated in May with an accounting degree.