Led by 17 points from UConn rising senior Tina Charles, the U.S. defeated host Serbia 84-50 to wrap up the Group A title with a 3-0 record at the World University Games.

Danielle McCray of Kansas and Georgia's Ashley Houts added 12 points each and California's Alexis Gray-Lawson added 10 points and four steals for the U.S. UConn's Tiffany Hayes added six points, three rebounds and five assists for the U.S., which now heads into the second stage of round robin play in Group E along with Great Britain, Czech Republic and Poland. The United States will be given credit for its previous win against Great Britain. After a day off tomorrow, the U.S. will face Poland on Sunday and the Czech Republic on Monday. The top two teams in each of the four groups advance into the championship bracket with the third and fourth-place teams relegated to the consolation bracket.

UConn's Maya Moore missed her third straight game with a sore knee. I reached out to USA Basketball and the early word confirmed early reports that the move was simply a precautionary one. When or if further details become available, I will pass them on but it should be noted that after every game I have seen Maya play, she was worn ice packs on both knees. As I mentioned in an earlier entry, there's no way they are going to risk Maya's health even if it means holding out the team's best player.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that former Cheshire Academy star Johannah Leedham was the tournament's leading scorer through two games, averaging 22 points a game for Great Britain. Some day somebody can explain to me how it is she ended up playing at Franklin Pierce and not for a Big East team or one of the other Division I teams in the state. Something tells me she would be an All-Big East candidate if she went to Seton Hall, Providence or other teams who would use a versatile 5-foot-11 offensive dynamo. It should be noted that Leedham had 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals (as well as seven turnovers) while her sister and Jennifer (who also went from Cheshire Academy to Franklin Pierce) had eight points and four steals in a loss to the U.S. so it's not like they are padding their stats against inferior competition. Unfortunately, the stats are not available for the other games on Friday other than the U.S. so I can't update how the Leedhams did in Great Britain's 80-56 win over France. Johannah Leedham, the 2008 WBCA Division II national player of the year, has one year remaining with the Ravens while Jennifer will stay with the program as an assistant coach after graduating. Personally, if UConn schedules a Division II opponent in the preseason for the third straight season, let's hope it is Franklin Pierce.