BELGRADE, Serbia --- Georgia's Ashley Houts scored eight points, dished out four assists and collected three steals to help the U.S. National Team to a decisive 115-30 victory over France in its opening game of the 2009 World University Games on Wednesday.
    Houts, a 5-6, rising senior from Trenton, Ga., posted a perfect shooting performance. She connected on a pair field goal attempts, both from behind the three-point arc, and knocked down two free throws. Houts also grabbed four rebounds in 18 minutes of playing time.
    Connecticut's Tina Charles scored 18 points to lead five Americans in double digits. No American played more than 23 minutes. An early 19-0 run helped the United States to a 35-7 lead following the first quarter. The U.S. shot 56.1 percent from the field while holding France to a 27.1 percent performance. The Americans scored more points off French turnovers (31) than their opposition did as a team.
    The U.S. will continue competition in Group A of the 16-team field by facing Great Britain on Thursday and Serbia on Friday. Second-round play will be from July 5-7, with the semifinals contested on July 9 and the championship slated for July 11.