Christmas is coming soon, and most of the European pro teams will take a holiday break.  A couple of Atlanta Dream players have already expressed their joy in coming back to the States through social media, and one is literally counting the days.  Also, one Dream player will be holding a basketball camp during the holiday season.

However, there’s still basketball to play before that break comes.  Find out more in this week’s Dream Overseas Report!

Matee Ajavon

(Energa Torun, Poland)

On Sunday, Ajavon and her Energa Torun team hosted Sosnowiec and won 54-46, moving to 5-7 on the season.  It was the seventh loss in a row for 2-10 Sosnowiec.  Sosnowiec had closed to 42-41 with seven minutes left in the game, but my understanding is some fortunate three-point shooting secured the win for Energa Torun.

Energa Torun:  Ajavon 21 (3-for-7 from behind the arc), Weronika Idczak 11/6 assists, Charity Szczechowiak 10, Shae Kelley DNP.

Sosnowiec:  Aishah Sutherland (Kansas 2012) 16/10 rebounds, Paulina Rozwadowska 13/7 rebounds.

Box score Energa Torun/Sosnowiec:
http://www.basketligakobiet.pl/mecz/35066/energa-torun—jas-fbg-zaglebie-sosnowiec.html

Cierra Burdick

(Napoli, Italy)

Burdick sent her Twitter fans a message on December 10 from @C_Burdick11:

 “really don’t even know what today is, but I know I come home in 12 days!! Yipppeeee! #TheCountdownContinues”. 

On Wednesday, December 9, Napoli took on Valosun Brno from the Czech Republic with high stakes.  A win by Napoli would move them to the Round of 16 and a win by Brno would keep their chances alive to advance in tournament play.

Napoli would get the road victory 64-62 in a close match to move to 4-1 overall in Group G play.  Brno led 55-44 going into the final quarter when Napoli rolled off a 16-0 run over the first 5:33 of the fourth quarter to take a 60-55 lead.  It would be a close game for the rest of the fourth quarter, and with seven seconds left Eva Mrhalkova of Brno would miss the first of two free throws when she needed both to tie.  Down 63-62, Brno was forced to foul and Jelena Ivezic hit one of two free throws with four seconds left to account for the final margin.  Brno did not get another shot off before the buzzer sounded.

Napoli’s next Eurocup game is against Hungarian squad Aluinvent DVTK Miskolc, which sits undefeated in Group G at 5-0.  Miskolc dealt Napoli their only loss in Group G play, but with both teams assured of advancing, the upcoming game will be strictly for pride, practice and position.

Napoli:  Chiara Pastore 16, Jelena Ivezic 13, Burdick 12/11 rebounds, Noelle Quinn 7.

Valosun Brno:  Edita Sujanova 18, Lenita Sanford (UNLV 2012) 10, Katerina Sedlakova 11/10 rebounds.

In league play, Napoli moved to 4-6 on the year with a 73-64 home win over Orvieto on Sunday.  At one point, the visitors led 41-30 in the third quarter.  The game was tied 55-55 in the fourth when a 12-2 run from Napoli gave them the win.  A 9-for-21 performance from behind the arc helped in the Napoli triumph.

Napoli:  Jelena Ivezic 20, Burdick 15/14 rebounds, Chiara Pastore 12/6 rebounds, Gintare Petronyte 12/6 rebounds.

Orvieto:  Taryn Wikijowski 14/13 rebounds, Dietrick Blake 11/7 rebounds, Emilia Bove 10/8 rebounds.

Box score Napoli/Valosun Brno:  http://www.fibaeurope.com/eurocupwomen/compID_Rn2Om4j3HOcXtTFwJWFsh3.season_2016.roundID_11803.gameID_11817-G-10-5.html

Box score Napoli/Orvieto:
http://lbf-web.dataproject-stats.com/Tabellino.asp?IdGara=15958

 

Sydney Carter

(TTT Riga, Latvia)

Cierra Burdick isn’t the only one looking forward to heading home.

From @Sydney_Rene:

“9 days (USA Flag emoji)”

Group B in Eurocup belongs to TTT Riga, and they proved that by beating visiting Swedish team Udominate to advance to 5-0 in Group play.  With Orduspor and Dynamo Moscow at 3-2 after  Thursday, TTT Riga clinches first place in Group B and will advance to the Round of 16.

TTT Riga had 23 assists and scored 50 points in the paint.

TTT Riga:  Zenta Melnika 18/6 rebounds, Carter 15/7 assists/4 steals, Kristen Mann 12/8 rebounds/4 assists, Ieva Krastina 11/4 steals.

Udominate:  Krista Gross (North Carolina 2013) 15, Ana Baletic 12, Hollie Mershon (Drexel 2013) 11/5 assists.

On Sunday, TTT Riga returned to Latvian league play to take on Audentes SG.  The 126-18 final score is not a typo.  Carter only played six minutes in this game.

TTT Riga:  Ieva Kulite 18/9 rebounds, Liene Priede 16, Ruta Veidere 16/9 rebounds, Baiba Eglite 16, Anda Eibele 15/6 rebounds/20 assists,  Kate Aizsila 15/6 steals, Zenta Melnika 10, Carter 4.

Audentes SG:  8-for-42 shooting, 41 turnovers.

Box score TTT Riga/Udominate:  http://www.fibaeurope.com/eurocupwomen/compID_Rn2Om4j3HOcXtTFwJWFsh3.season_2016.roundID_11803.gameID_11817-B-9-5.html

Box score TTT Riga/Audentes SG: 
http://www.wbbl.eu/en/schedule/top/competition/game/?game_id=3211625&season_id=91995#mbt:63-400$t&0=1

Carla Cortijo

(Gigantes de Carolina, Puerto Rico)

Cortijo’s regular season is complete with her Carolina club winning the league championship.

Cortijo has announced on December 11 on her Facebook page that she’ll be holding a basketball camp for girls in Puerto Rico.  The camp is free and will take place on December 22 and 23.

Damiris Dantas

(Corinthians/Americana, Brazil)

Dantas hasn’t played any games with her Corinthians team.  She is in training with the Brazilian women’s national team.  Currently, Corinthians/American is 5-1 in the Brazilian league without her.

Reshanda Gray

(Battipaglia, Italy)

On Sunday Battipaglia hosted Parma and moved to 4-6 on the season with an 87-81 overtime home win.  It was an ugly, foul-prone game that ended 71-71 in regulation.  Parma outrebounded the hosts 50-35 but were very selfish with the ball with only three assisted baskets.

Battipaglia:  Immaculata Zanoguera 24, Gray 21/10 rebounds, Kourtney Treffers 20/12 rebounds, Tagliamento Marzia 16.

Parma:  Uju Ugoka 24/24 rebounds, Christine Clark (Harvard 2014) 14, Francesca Zara 12, Renata Brezinova 11, Valeria De Pretto 10.

After this game, Immaculata Zanoguera terminated her relationship with the club due to injuries.  The signing of Asia Boyd (Kansas, 2015) was announced by Battipaglia before the Zanoguera announcement.

Box score Battipaglia/Parma:
http://lbf-web.dataproject-stats.com/Tabellino.asp?IdGara=15961

Tiffany Hayes

(Yakin Dogu, Turkey)

Yakin Dogu hosted the top ranked team in the Turkish league on Saturday, Abdullah Gul, and managed to take them into overtime, losing 81-74.  The game was tied 68-68 after regulation but Yakin Dogu was held to just six points over the extra five minutes.   Unfortunately, there’s not much else online about this game.

Yakin Dogu:  Alyssa Thomas 16/8 rebounds, Safiye Karaman 13, Ana Dabovic 12/5 assists, Kelsey Bone 11/12 rebounds, Hayes 9.

Abdullah Gul:  Zoi Dimitrakou 22/6 rebounds/5 assists, LaToya Sanders 18/10 rebounds, Katalin Honti 12, Janel McCarville 8.

Box score Yakin Dogu/Abdullah Gul:
http://www.tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl/mac-detay?Lig=7368&MacNo=1BA1383&Sezon=156

Aneika Henry, Angel McCoughtry

(Mersin, Turkey)

Henry and McCoughtry traveled with Mersin on Sunday to take on Galatasaray at their home arena, losing 76-67.  It looks like Mersin fell into a 23-9 hole at the end of the first quarter and was never able to climb back out of it.  They managed to close to 60-55 at one point in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t push through the gap.

Interesting trivia:  The four Mersin players listed below are the only ones who scored.

Mersin:  McCoughtry 28/9 rebounds, Henry 15/10 rebounds/6 assists, Bria Hartley 12, Marina Kuzina 12.

Galatasaray:  Jewell Loyd 22/7 rebounds, Isil Alben 15, Jelena Dubljevic 12, Nevriye Yilmaz 11, Bahar Caglar 11.

Box score Mersin/Galatasaray: 
http://www.tbf.org.tr/ligler/kbsl/mac-detay?Lig=7368&MacNo=1BA1381&Sezon=156

Sancho Lyttle

(UMMC, Ekaterinburg)

On Wednesday, UMMC hosted Czech team USK Praha in Euroleague play.  UMMC had been upset the week before and was almost taken into overtime by the Czechs, but Diana Taurasi hit the game-winning three pointer with moments left to let UMMC escape with the 76-73 win to advance to 6-1 in Group B as the first half of the Euroleague regular season concludes.

Down by five points with 1:28 left to go, Taurasi made a couple of great plays.  She assisted on a Eugenia Belyakova triple that tied the game at 73-73 with 42 seconds left, and then hit the go-ahead three with just four seconds left on the clock.  UMMC won despite giving up 11 offensive rebounds to USK Praha compared to just three for the Russians.

UMMC:   Diana Taurasi 19/6 assists, Brittney Griner 15/9 rebounds, Alba Torrens 13, Eugenia Belyakova 11, Lyttle 6 (18 minutes played)

USK Praha:  Katerina Elhotova 25, Kia Vaughn 16/13 rebounds, Sonja Petrovic 12, Laia Palau 12/12 rebounds.

UMMC then returned home on Sunday to battle Dynamo Kursk.  The 82-73 victory leaves UMMC undefeated at 10-0 in the Russian league regular season.    I haven’t been able to find out much about this game, though.  Lyttle did not take part in that game, but I don’t know if she was injured or just resting.

Box score UMMC/USK Praha:  http://www.fibaeurope.com/euroleaguewomen/compID_jr6ZiXqeGhMBtfq1yxqV83.season_2016.roundID_11804.gameID_11814-B-26-7.html

Box score UMMC/Dynamo Kursk:
http://www.russiabasket.ru/game/?id=109975&compId=11012&tab=0