Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

College basketball

McDowell carries Spartans past Tritons

LAKELAND -- Senior center Jessie McDowell scored 25, blocked six shots and had a career-high 18 rebounds to lead the Tampa women to a 67-55 win against Eckerd in the opening round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament Friday.

McDowell had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the second half, when the Spartans (22-6) went on a 13-0 run to break open a close game. UT, the No. 2 seed, advances to face third-seeded Rollins (12-16), a 74-59 winner against Saint Leo, at noon Sunday at Florida Southern College.

The Tritons (12-16) came into the game planning to go right at McDowell. That strategy worked -- to a point. McDowell had three fouls at halftime and Eckerd was up 28-27.

"I knew they were trying to get in the post and get me in foul trouble," McDowell said. "And it was a little hard for me not to just go after the ball every time."

Eckerd kept the plan working for part of the second half, going on a 12-0 run to take a 42-41 lead with 9:23 left. But Tampa regained control with key baskets from McDowell and back-to-back 3-pointers by Vanessa Hubbard and Amy Holmes.

April Hinton and Yushanda Morse combined for 17 points for Tampa. Eckerd was led by Andrea Patterson's 17, and SSC freshman of the year Stefanie Mihalopoulos scored 15.

"We played a tough 33 minutes," Eckerd coach Brian Shultes said. "We got a lot out of our kids, but had a couple of lapses at the end and they exploited them."

Harrick Jr. suspended

ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia assistant Jim Harrick Jr. was suspended a day after a former player accused him of paying his expenses and committing academic fraud.

Harrick, son of coach Jim Harrick, is barred from participating in practices and games, athletic director Vince Dooley said in a statement.

"In light of the seriousness of the allegations, we feel that it is appropriate to suspend Jim Harrick Jr. with pay, until such time as these allegations are investigated to our satisfaction," the statement said.

Tony Cole told ESPN that Harrick Jr. paid $300 for a phone bill that Cole ran up while staying with the mother of a friend.

Cole also said Harrick Jr. took or arranged for someone else to take two correspondence courses for him from Lincoln Trail College. Harrick Jr. also taught a coaching class at Georgia and gave Cole an A even though the player never attended the class, Cole said.

The elder Harrick addressed reporters before practice, but didn't take questions.

"Despite the many issues we've had in the past with Tony Cole, we take these things seriously," Harrick said. "To attack our program is something that I really take very seriously."

RICHARDSON SUIT: Arkansas fired Nolan Richardson because he showed a lack of confidence in his program, not because he is black and outspoken, the university said in its response to a federal lawsuit filed by the former coach. The university denied discriminating against Richardson and denied attempting to stifle his free-speech rights. Richardson complained in February 2002 that he was treated differently because of his race and said the university could buy out his contract. University lawyers said in court papers that Richardson's comments "immediately indicated a lack of confidence in the basketball program and his leadership for it."

COLORADO: Guard James Wright had his suspension lifted by the university and can begin playing when coach Ricardo Patton approves. The university in January suspended Wright from classes after he was accused of letting himself into a dorm room, crawling into bed with an 18-year-old woman and making sexual advances. Wright faces a trial in state district court on charges of indecent exposure and burglary.

LOUISVILLE: Forward Ellis Myles had surgery on his right knee, and his basketball future is in doubt. The 6-foot-8 junior, who was leading the Cardinals in rebounding at 7.9 a game, ruptured his right patella tendon in Thursday night's loss to Marquette. In other news, senior center Marvin Stone remained eligible for this weekend's game with East Carolina but his status could change at any time, according to his attorney, Donald Jackson. Investigators have spent the week in Louisville, probing Stone's connection to an AAU team in Huntsville, Ala., when he was in high school.

Women

HOUSTON 77, USF 73: Chandi Jones scored 26 and had 13 rebounds as the host Cougars (14-12, 5-8 C-USA) defeated the Bulls (7-19, 2-11) to lock up a spot in next week's conference tournament. Jones, who leads the nation in scoring at 27.4, got her 11th double double of the season and added three assists. Aiya Shepherd led South Florida with a game-high 29 points and Tristen Webb added 15. The Cougars led 71-63 with three minutes left, but the Bulls rallied to cut the lead to two with 33 seconds left. South Florida could not get any closer as Houston hit its free throws to seal the win.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright