New URL

nothing major, but I have updated the blog URL to http://olympicsblog.wordpress.com/ so update your rss feeds accordingly (funny joke I know)

U-17 Girls Basketball Wins Group at World Championships

Not to be outdone by the U-20 soccer team winning their group, the U-17 basketball team won theirs in impressive fashion, defeating Japan 133-71.

Future UConn Husky Breanna Stewart had 30 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks for the Americans, who moved to 5-0 in the tournament. The Americans outscored Japan 96-28 in the paint. The US shot 64.4% from the field and had 37 points in the 3rd quarter alone.

All 12 girls on the roster scored, and 6 were in double figures. Ariel Massengale had 10 assists for the victors.

By virtue of winning their group, the US girls will play the #4 seed from Group B, which has yet to be determined.

United States Women Defeat Korea, Win U-20 World Cup Group

Sydney Leroux is going for back to back golden boots

The defending champion Americans needed to not lose to assure themselves of a place in the quarterfinals, and they did better than that, snatching a 1-0 win from Korea to win their group. UCLA star Sydney Leroux scored the lone goal in the game, coming in the 21st minute just after she had missed another chance on net.

A native of Canada, Leroux had two caps with Canada’s U-20 team before switching to the United States. She had 5 goals in the last U-20 World Cup to win the golden shoe, and is well on her way to doing so again.

With the win, the United States gets an automatic berth into the final 8 as winners of their group and they will face Nigeria on Sunday.