Overseas Update 2/12

In the EuroLeague, Lauren Jackson's and Sue Bird's Spartak team beat TEO Vilnius on Feb. 8 83-71 to take the best-of-three series with two straight wins. The win advances them to the quarterfinal playoffs in the EuroLeague. In 22 minutes, Sue Bird had seven points, two rebounds and four assists. Lauren Jackson had 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in 21 minutes. Spartak's next opponent has not been announced, but the first game of the series will be played Feb. 26.

The newest member of the Seattle Storm, Roneeka Hodges, is playing overseas in the EuroCup League for Gran Canaria. Hodges has been having a tremendous season overseas. She is leading her team in scoring with 23.5 points per game. She is also averaging six rebounds, two and a half assists and one steal per game. She is shooting 59.7 percent from the floor.

Some of the highlights for her this season for Gran Canaria are a 35-point game against Extrugasa and an eight-rebound outing against Lavezzini Basket. She also has made five three-point field goals in two games this season. Her 23.5 points per game ranks her fifth in the EuroCup in scoring. She has been on the floor for an average of 37.9 minutes per game, which ranks her eighth-best in the EuroCup.

Katie Gearlds has joined the team Athinaikos of the Greek Women's basketball league. She made an incredible first impression on her new team with a victory on Feb. 10 against Panionios 75-66. In 40 minutes, she led her team with 26 points. She also had three assists and two steals. She hit four-of-eight shots from three-point range. Athinaikos is currently ranked fifth in the standings with an 11-6 record. They are two games behind Esperides Ravenna, which stands alone at the top of the standings. Up next for Athinkaikos is a game against Iraklis on Feb. 17.

In the Israeli DI National League, Tanisha Wright's Raanana Hertzliya squad defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 78-73 on Feb. 11. In 38 minutes, Wright had 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. She made seven-of-13 field goals. She is leading her team in scoring this season with 20.8 points per game and assists with 5.7 per game. She is also tied for the team lead in steals with 3.4 per game.

Among the other players in the league, Wright ranks near the top in several catagories. Her average of 20.8 points per game ranks her at fourth in the entire league and her average of 3.4 steals per game is second best in the league. She is the league leader in assists per game with her average of 5.7 per game.

Doneeka Lewis, who is playing for Fiera di Roma Pomezia in the LegA Basket Femminile league, is averaging 14.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Her team played against Levoni Taranto on Feb. 10 and lost 82-42. Lewis had nine points and three rebounds. Fiera di Roma Pomezia plays again on Feb. 13 against Carispe La Spezia.

Staying in the LegA Basket Femminile league, Astou Ndiaye-Diatta, who is playing for Phard Napoli, last played on Feb. 11 against Umana Venezia and won 69-58. In 13 minutes Ndiaye-Diatta had four rebounds and one assist. Next up for Phard Napoli is a game against Banco di Sicilia Ribera on Feb. 13.

Janell Burse's team USK Praha of the Czech Basketball League beat Valosun Brno on Feb. 9. 114-63. Burse did not play in the game. With a record of 15-1, USK Praha is just one game behind Gambrinus in the standings. The two teams will face off on Feb. 16., which should make for a great game.