FIBA Women's Basketball World Championship

Getty Images/Ned Dishman

The USA Basketball women's basketball team opened play Saturday against China at the FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.

The USA had a seven point lead over China at halftime, 39-32, but were able to pull away in the second half to win 87-56. Leading scorers for Team USA was Brittney Griner and Maya Moore with 15 points. Seimone Augustus and Angel McCoughtry were also in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively. All 12 USA players scored points.

The USA played their second game Sunday against Serbia. The USA won 94-74. The game was close until the fourth quarter. The USA outscored Serbia 24-10 in the final quarter to win the game. Diana Taurasi led the way for the Stars and Stripes with 20 points. Maya Moore chipped in with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Brittney Griner had a double-double as well with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The USA will end preliminary pool play against Angola at 2:30 p.m. ET today on NBA TV and ESPN3. With the win over Serbia, the USA is the No. 1 seed from Group D and earned a berth into the medal-round quarterfinals.

Cross Country

mgoblue.com

The #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines women's cross country team won the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown Friday, September 26. The 5K was held at Franklin Park in Boston, MA.

The overall winner of the race was Boston College's Liv Westphal in 16:30. Leading the way for the Wolverines was Erin Finn in second in 16:51, Shannon Osika placed third in 17:03, Brook Handler was 8th in 17:14, Megan Weschler (15th - 17:25) and Taylor Pogue (27th - 17:41).

With Michigan's top five runners in the top 30, that gave them the win with 55 points over second place Georgetown.

The Wolverines will race next on October 18 at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Team Standings

 1. MICHIGAN             55
 2. Georgetown           77
 3. Syracuse            134
 4. Boston College      192
 5. Dartmouth           207
 6. Providence          211
 7. New Hampshire       244
 8. Harvard             250
 9. Cornell             254
10. Duke                259
11. Eastern Michigan    267
12. Lipscomb            285
13. Columbia            286
14. Connecticut         306
15. Stony Brook         308
16. Johns Hopkins       389
17. Northeastern        435
18. Rhode Island        527

Top 10 Finishers

 1. Liv Westphal, Boston College         16:30
 2. ERIN FINN, U-M                       16:51
 3. SHANNON OSIKA, U-M                   17:03
 4. Katrina Coogan, Georgetown           17:07
 5. Taylor Spillane, Cornell             17:09
 6. Dana Giordano, Dartmouth             17:11
 7. Victoria Voronko, Eastern Michigan   17:14
 8. BROOK HANDLER, U-M                   17:14
 9. Lauren Sara, Connecticut             17:15
10. Jessie Petersen, Syracuse            17:17

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession,Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman 
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Michale J. Collins, M.D.
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs, Michael J. Collins M.D. 
Dark Dreams: A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines Homicide and the Criminal Mind, Roy Hazelwood & Stephen G. Michaud 
Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, Alistair Brownlee & Jonathan Brownlee
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Beauty, Disrupted: The Carre Otis Story, Carre Otis & Hugo Schwyzer
House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival, Deborah Ball
Trama: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon, Dr. James Cole
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, J.B. West
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant, Scott Haas 
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous, Jennifer Buhl
Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse, Janice Hudson
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny, Suzanne Hansen
NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force, Leonard Levitt 
The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus
Chicago Cop: Tales from the Street, Star #14931
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael Ruhlman
Monica's Story, Andrew Morton
All Too Human: A Political Education, George Stephanopoulos
Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews
Petals on the Wind, V.C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, V.C., Andrews 
How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder, Mike Gilbert  
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, Del Quentin Wilber
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside The Secret Service, Joseph Petro & Jeffrey Robinson  
Intensive Care, Echo Heron
Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Echo Heron
Cabin Fever: The Sizzling Secrets of an Virgin Air Hostess..., Mandy Smith
Dancing with the Devil: The Windsors and Jimmy Donahue, Christopher Wilson
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season, Sophie Campbell
Joe and Marilyn: Legends in Love, C. David Heymann
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, Judy Melinek, M.D.
Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Cormac O'Brien
Secret Lives of the First Ladies, Cormac O'Brien

Currently Reading: The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren

Exhibitions

I will be viewing two gallery exhibitions inside the Studio Angelico building at my alma mater later this afternoon. Both of these shows are for faculty members that passed away within the last year or so. Both of them were art professors while I attended Siena Heights University. Wittersheim taught metalsmithing and Demots taught watercolor. I didn't have them as professors, but I did interact with both of them. Both were wonderful people and artists.


John D. Wittersheim: A Retrospective
August 26 - October 2, 2014
Klemm Gallery

Lois Demots, In Remembrance: A Memorial Exhibition
September 22 - October 3, 2014
Gallery Ten

Siena Heights University
1247 East Siena Heights Drive
Adrian, MI  49221

Painting

I finished my first painting on canvas yesterday. It is of a cardinal.

I haven't painted since high school. I now regret not taking any painting classes during college. As an art major, I should have at least taken one semester outside of my concentration. I opted for graphics and printmaking instead.

At least I can paint on my own and take classes through the internet. It's not the best painting, but I think it looks good for a beginner.

Drawing

I bought all new art supplies a few weeks ago. I finally picked up my drawing pencils two Sundays ago.

I found a few bird photos on the internet. I really loved a Blue Jay photo, so I decided to draw that one.

Within a half hour, I had finished my drawing. Looking at it after I completed it, I saw a few flaws. The body of the Blue Jay is a little too long. I should have made the body shorter just above the wings. The beak also looks a little weird to me. It just doesn't seem right.

I'm happy to be drawing and creating art again. I have taken photographs for years. But it is nice to get my hands dirty again. I hope to never lose touch with my physical art background again. 

Miss America

Associated Press/Julio Cortez

Associated Press/Mel Evans

Associated Press/Julio Cortez

The 2015 Miss America Pageant took place Sunday, September 14 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was crowned Miss America by 2014 Miss America Nina Davuluri, who was also Miss New York.

Kazantsev sang 'Happy' by Pharrel Williams and used a red plastic cup while sitting on the stage floor. Kazantsev said she was inspired by 'Pitch Perfect', the 2012 movie starting Anna Kendrick.

For the on stage question, Miss New York was asked by Lee Meriwether about women leaders in the Senate and what they should be taking the lead on. Kazantsev said that sexual assault in the military is an issue that the women senators have to fight for.

4th runner up: Miss Massachusetts - Lauren Kuhn
3rd runner up: Miss Florida - Victoria Cowen
2nd runner up: Miss Arkansas - Ashton Jo Campbell
1st runner up: Miss Virginia -  Courtney Paige Garrett

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession,Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman 
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Michale J. Collins, M.D.
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs, Michael J. Collins M.D. 
Dark Dreams: A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines Homicide and the Criminal Mind, Roy Hazelwood & Stephen G. Michaud 
Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, Alistair Brownlee & Jonathan Brownlee
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Beauty, Disrupted: The Carre Otis Story, Carre Otis & Hugo Schwyzer
House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival, Deborah Ball
Trama: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon, Dr. James Cole
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, J.B. West
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant, Scott Haas 
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous, Jennifer Buhl
Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse, Janice Hudson
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny, Suzanne Hansen
NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force, Leonard Levitt 
The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus
Chicago Cop: Tales from the Street, Star #14931
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael Ruhlman
Monica's Story, Andrew Morton
All Too Human: A Political Education, George Stephanopoulos
Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews
Petals on the Wind, V.C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, V.C., Andrews 
How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder, Mike Gilbert  
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, Del Quentin Wilber
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside The Secret Service, Joseph Petro & Jeffrey Robinson  
Intensive Care, Echo Heron
Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Echo Heron
Cabin Fever: The Sizzling Secrets of an Virgin Air Hostess..., Mandy Smith
Dancing with the Devil: The Windsors and Jimmy Donahue, Christopher Wilson
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season, Sophie Campbell
Joe and Marilyn: Legends in Love, C. David Heymann
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, Judy Melinek, M.D.
Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Cormac O'Brien

Currently Reading: Secret Lives of the First Ladies, Cormac O'Brien

WNBA finals

Kamil Krzaczynski

The Chicago Sky hosted the Phoenix Mercury for Game 3 of the WNBA finals on Friday. Chicago Sky needed to win Game 3 to continue the series in the best 3 out of 5 games.

The game was much closer then the first two because Brittney Griner, center for the Mercury, was sitting out due to an eye procedure that took place after Game 2. Even with Griner sitting out, the Mercury was able to top the Sky 87-82 to win their third WNBA Championship.

USA Today Sports

Coming up big for the Mercury was Diana Taurasi, who was named the MVP, and Candice Dupree. Taurasi and Dupree both scored 24 points for the Mercury. Taurasi was fouled when she made a basket with 14.3 seconds left in the game to break the tie at 82 points. She made the free throw to put the Mercury up 85-82. Leading the way for the Sky was Elena Delle Donne with 23 points and Sylvia Fowles with 20 points.

Anniversary

Deloris Clark-Osborne

My husband and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary today.

I have enjoyed every minute spent together. These past 13 years have flown by. I wouldn't want to spend them with anyone else.

Skipping

I have run a local half marathon for the past three years. The race is this Saturday and I didn't sign up this year.

I had the entry form at my house for about a month and a half. I didn't want to sign up because of a few reasons. I didn't know if my husband and I would be going out of town to celebrate our anniversary, which is the 15th. I didn't know if we were going to be on vacation. Finally, I needed to save money to have my car's back break line replaced. Granted if I registered early, I could have saved a few dollars. I just kept putting it off and missed early registration.

I could still run the half marathon this weekend, but I won't. I have already run 13 races this year. I'm tired. For a good chuck of 2014, I was preparing myself for a fall ultra. That didn't happen because money is tight. I only work part-time and I can't run every race I want to.  Even though I really want to.

This is also the year my car decided it needed to have every part replaced. I didn't plan on spending that much money to have my car repaired. I plan on making the appointment this week to have the rear brake line replaced. It will cost a couple of hundred dollars, but that is money I wish I didn't have to spend.

I'm sure the local half marathon will be on the calendar again next year. Even though I'm not signed up to run that half marathon, it's OK. I will wake up that morning, change my clothes, put on my shoes and run anyway.

WNBA Finals

USA Today Sports

The WNBA Finals started Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix Mercury hosted Chicago Sky.

The Mercury dominated Game 1 from the start and defeated the Sky 83-62 Sunday. The largest lead the Mercury had over the Sky was 30 points in the third quarter. Mercury's Brittney Griner set a playoff record of eight blocks. Griner also scored 12 points and had seven rebounds. Candice Dupree was the leading scorer for Phoenix with 26 points. Dupree made her first 10 shots. Diana Taurasi chipped in with 19 points and 11 assists.

Chicago's Sylvia Fowles led the way for the Sky with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Allie Quigley was also in double figures with 13 points and 4 rebounds. Elena Delle Donne's back hurt and only played 11 minutes in the first half. Delle Donne sat out the rest of the game to rest up for Game 2.

Game 2 of the best of 5 series will be played Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession,Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman 
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Michale J. Collins, M.D.
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs, Michael J. Collins M.D. 
Dark Dreams: A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines Homicide and the Criminal Mind, Roy Hazelwood & Stephen G. Michaud 
Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, Alistair Brownlee & Jonathan Brownlee
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Beauty, Disrupted: The Carre Otis Story, Carre Otis & Hugo Schwyzer
House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival, Deborah Ball
Trama: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon, Dr. James Cole
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, J.B. West
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant, Scott Haas 
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous, Jennifer Buhl
Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse, Janice Hudson
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny, Suzanne Hansen
NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force, Leonard Levitt 
The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus
Chicago Cop: Tales from the Street, Star #14931
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael Ruhlman
Monica's Story, Andrew Morton
All Too Human: A Political Education, George Stephanopoulos
Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews
Petals on the Wind, V.C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, V.C., Andrews 
How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder, Mike Gilbert  
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, Del Quentin Wilber
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside The Secret Service, Joseph Petro & Jeffrey Robinson  
Intensive Care, Echo Heron
Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Echo Heron
Cabin Fever: The Sizzling Secrets of an Virgin Air Hostess..., Mandy Smith
Dancing with the Devil: The Windsors and Jimmy Donahue, Christopher Wilson
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season, Sophie Campbell
Joe and Marilyn: Legends in Love, C. David Heymann
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, Judy Melinek, M.D.

Currently Reading: Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Cormac O'Brien