Whalen leads U.S. to win over Canada

Lindsay Whalen scored 16 points to lead the United States to a 87-46 victory over Canada on Monday night in the second round of the women's basketball world championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Whalen made five of seven shots and all six free throws she attempted, and is averaging 7.5 points per game for the USA team (4-0).

Swin Cash and Asjha Jones each had 10 points for the Americans, who face Belarus on Tuesday.

For the second consecutive game the U.S. got off to a slow start as Canada jumped out to an 11-5 lead with 4:27 left in the first quarter. It was the biggest deficit the Americans had faced in the tournament. Coach Geno Auriemma put in his second group led by Whalen, Angel McCoughtry and Tina Charles and they quickly provided an immediate spark, blowing the game open.

"I like that second group," Auriemma said. "I thought about changing the starting lineup today as those guys are stuck in the mud. You got some high energy guys like Lindsay, Angel, Maya [Moore], as well. Tina gave us a great burst at the beginning of the second quarter."

Janelle Bekkering and Kim Smith scored eight points to lead Canada (1-3).

The second unit got four consecutive turnovers on the way to a 12-0 run. The U.S. forced Canada into 32 turnovers in the game.

Andrew Gallo, 23, held white rosary beads and occasionally looked up at jurors as they returned convictions on three counts of second-degree murder and single counts of drunken driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury.

Gallo, who had a previous drunken driving conviction, was led away in handcuffs and briefly looked over his shoulder at the victims' sobbing relatives.

Gallo faces 50 years to life in state prison at his scheduled sentencing on Dec. 10.

"I think it's tragic," Gallo's attorney Jacqueline Goodman told reporters outside the courtroom. "I think there's been a miscarriage of justice."

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas praised the verdict, even though he noted it would not bring back the victims.

Youth baseball: Little League will expand a program it hopes will keep more children and teens involved in baseball and ease the transition to larger fields.

Little League said a pilot program introduced this past season for 12- and 13-year-olds with a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths was so well-received that local leagues will have the option to start a "50-70" league for 11- and 12-year-olds next season.

Currently, the Little League division mainly for 11- and 12-year-olds is played on a field with a 46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths. That division's season ends with the Little League World Series each August.

That popular option will still be available, and players could participate in both leagues.

WNBA: The San Antonio Silver Stars fired coach Sandy Brondello after debuting with a 14-20 record and quick playoff exit in her first season.