Colleges

Two from USF face charges

By wire services
Published May 1, 2005

TAMPA - Alana Tanksleyand Tristen Webb, teammates on the South Florida women's basketball team the past four seasons, were arrested early Saturday on misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer without violence.

Tanksley, a reserve guard who averaged 5.1 points as a senior, and Webb, who sat out the season with a medical redshirt, were arrested at 2:11 a.m. after police responded to a complaint about a disturbance at a party attended by members of USF's men's and women's basketball teams in the Avalon Heights apartment complex, where both live.

The players declined to comment, but coach Jose Fernandez said after talking to several witnesses, he believes the arrests were unwarranted.

"I'm standing by them," he said. "I've talked to several people who were there and I think once the matter is handled in the judicial system, they will be cleared of any wrongdoing. They're very apologetic for putting the university and the athletic department in the media for this reason."

Both were released Saturday morning with Tanksley out on $1,250 bond and Webb on $750. Tanksley faces two obstruction counts while Webb faces one.

Tanksley was part of Fernandez's first recruiting class and witnessed USF's transformation from a 7-20 record her sophomore year to back-to-back NIT appearances the past two seasons. She also established the Create-a-Smile Foundation with teammate Sharon Cambridge to benefit underprivileged children in Tampa.

OU coach in limbo

Oklahoma officials have not decided whether coach Larry Cochell would keep his position after using racially derogatory language during two ESPN interviews.

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione did not want to comment, other than to say Cochell's status had not changed. Castiglione announced Friday he had removed Cochell from his position and named Sunny Golloway the interim head coach indefinitely.

MORE BASEBALL: Visiting Tulane (38-7, 16-4 C-USA) defeated USF (25-23, 10-9) 5-3 in 10 innings in the first game of a twilight doubleheader. ... Host Tampa (34-15, 13-8 SSC) swept Lynn 4-0 and 3-0 to remain in the postseason hunt in the NCAA II South Region. Tampa is third with the top four schools qualifying for tournament play. Tampa's Aaron Cook (5-0) tossed a three-hitter in the second game. ... Rain and lightning forced the postponement of the game between host Florida State (36-13, 11-8 ACC) and Virginia (30-14, 9-11 ACC). The teams will play a doubleheader today beginning at 11 a.m.

POLITICS: Former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, 68, plans to seek the state's Republican nomination for governor instead of a fourth term in Congress. Osborne won three national titles in his final four years at Nebraska, got 82 percent of the vote in his first run for Congress in 2000, 93 percent in his re-election bid in 2002 and 87 percent last year.

TRACK AND FIELD: Florida State senior All-America Dorian Scott placed fourth in the shot put at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia with a heave of 61 feet, 13/4 inches. Teammate Andrew Diakos, a junior, was fourth in the hammer throw with a toss of 193 feet, 10 inches.

SOFTBALL: Host Saint Leo clinched third place in the Sunshine State Conference by splitting a doubleheader with Barry in the regular season finale for both teams. Saint Leo (35-15, 16-8) won the first game 2-0 as freshman Kiki Von Holt of New Port Richey pitched a four-hitter. Denyve Duncanof Dunedin walked twice and singled for the Lions. Barry (35-18, 15-9 SSC) won the nightcap 7-1 as Heather Hodgesof Clearwater had a run-scoring single. ... Host USF (35-23, 12-8 C-USA) dropped both games of a doubleheader to DePaul (34-14, 18-2) 6-0 and 1-0.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Former Florida forward Bernice Mosbyreturned to Brooksville after making an official visit to USF and said she will choose between the Bulls, Baylor and Virginia Tech after visiting Baylor on Tuesday. The 6-foot-1 Moseby led the Gators in scoring last season at 15.5 a game.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 23:59:18]