The Notre Dame women’s basketball team had no trouble winning its first game in the renovated Purcell Pavilion.
The No. 4 Irish crushed Division II Indianapolis 97-53 Tuesday in an exhibition game.
Freshman guard Skylar Diggins shared top scoring honors with sophomore forward Erica Solomon. Both players scored 17 coming off the bench for the Irish, who returned every player from last season’s team.
Diggins, who starred at Washington High School in South Bend, also had four offensive rebounds, three steals and an assist, but she did turn the ball over four times.
Sophomore guard Natalie Novosel, who was one of four guards who started, scored 13, and junior guard Brittan Mallory and senior guard Ashley Barlow each added 12. Senior guard Lindsay Schrader had 10 points.
Notre Dame opens the regular season at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. Nov. 15.
BASEBALL
Around the Majors
Tampa Bay traded second baseman Akinori Iwamura to Pittsburgh for right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez. … Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells will have surgery next week to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist.
BASKETBALL
Gophers suspend forward, guard
Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has suspended two players indefinitely for breaking team rules. Smith would not say why freshman forward Royce White and senior guard Devron Bostick will be held out for at least two games and possibly more.
NBA notes
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was indicted on two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, two counts of carrying a handgun, two counts of transporting a handgun, and one each for reckless driving and negligent driving. Each weapons count carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. … The New Jersey Nets said an MRI performed on forward Yi Jianlian confirmed that he has sprained a ligament in his right knee. There is no timetable for his return. … Milwaukee guard Michael Redd expects to miss about two weeks because of a strained tendon in his left knee.
FOOTBALL
Bowling Green beats Buffalo
Tyler Sheehan threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Barnes with 39 seconds left to give Bowling Green a 30-29 victory over Buffalo in Amherst, N.Y. The Falcons (4-5, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) rallied from a 13-point deficit as Sheehan threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Jeffvon Gill ran for 172 yards and a touchdown for Buffalo (3-6, 1-4 MAC).
College news
X-rays show Tony Pike’s non-passing forearm is healing nicely, so he’ll be able to practice with No. 4 Cincinnati this week wearing a new splint instead of a cast. …Minnesota freshman defensive back Michael Carter will be allowed to play against Illinois despite his arrest this week outside a campus pizza parlor. Carter is charged with obstructing the legal process and underage consumption. … Georgia running back Washaun Ealey says he doesn’t think Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes should be suspended for apparently trying to gouge Ealey’s eyes in Saturday’s game. … Sophomore tailback Darrell Scott, the biggest recruiting prize in coach Dan Hawkins’ four-year tenure at Colorado, is leaving the program after 1 1/2 seasons filled with injuries and frustration. … Syracuse coach Doug Marrone suspended tailback Antwon Bailey, defensive end Torrey Ball and offensive guard Andrew Tiller for violating team rules.
HOCKEY
Around the NHL
Washington hopes Alex Ovechkin won’t be sidelined more than two weeks with an upper-body strain. … Final papers have been signed closing the sale of Phoenix to the league. … The Alberta health minister is investigating whether swine flu shots were “inappropriately diverted” to the Calgary Flames while thousands had to stand in line for hours for the vaccine.
HUNTING
Turkey Shoot in Ohio on Sunday
There will be a Turkey Shoot at the Willshire Sportsman’s Club, two miles east of Willshire, Ohio, on State Road 81, at noon Sunday. Only 12-gauge shotguns will be allowed. Shells will be furnished. There will be youth shoots for those 16 and younger. Shooters in those categories will use 20-gauge shotguns.
