Great Britain Basketball and Serbia Soccer into Classification Rounds

Leedhams and Great Britain defeat France to reach final eight, fall to Czech Republic in overtime
Serbia defeated by China, then open classification round with victory over Hungary

BELGRADE, Serbia (July 6, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University's contingent split games over the Fourth of July weekend and find themselves poised for classification round contests as the 2009 World University Games enters its final week.

Sisters Jennifer and Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) and their teammates on the Great Britain women's basketball team at the Games rounded out pool play with a commanding 80-56 victory over France on Friday night to reach the final eight. However, Britain dropped a tough 89-83 overtime decision to the Czech Republic last evening to eliminate them from medal contention.

Rising junior Snezana Stojkovic (Vitojevci, Serbia) and the host Serbian women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to China in their final matchup in pool play. Serbia opened the classification round with a 5-0 triumph over Hungary this morning. Stojkovic, who is keeping a blog of her experiences as a member of the host country's delegation, came off the bench in the 60^th minute for Serbia in the China match. She started against Hungary and played 27 minutes before leaving the match with Serbia leading 2-0.

Next up for Serbia is a classification round matchup with Germany on Wednesday at 4:30 a.m. (EDT).

Three-time All-American Johannah Leedham, a rising senior at Franklin Pierce, continues to lead the way for Great Britain at the University Games. She started and played 23 minutes in Friday's win over France, scoring a game-high matching 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, while converting all three free-throw attempts to go with six rebounds (three offensive), five steals and two assists. In yesterday's overtime loss to the Czech Republic, the 2008 State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year netted a team-best 23 points on 9-for-19 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, while converting 2-of-3 free-throws, to go with four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 33 minutes.

Leedham ranks third at the World University Games in scoring at 21.3 points per game and steals with three per game. She shares the Tournament lead with 2.8 three-point field goals per contest and a .933 (14-15) free-throw percentage.

Older sister Jennifer Leedham, a two-time All-Northeast-10 Conference selection who has recently been named assistant coach at Franklin Pierce, started both games over the weekend as well. The recent graduate posted five points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 21 minutes against France. She added five points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist in 28 minutes yesterday against the Czech Republic.

Leedham is ranked fifth for Great Britain in scoring with 6.8 points per game, also averaging three rebounds and two steals per game.  

Great Britain closes out the intermediate round tomorrow against Poland at 6:30 a.m. (EDT), where a win would ensure their involvement in the 5/6^th classification playoff.