NEW YORK – Cappie Pondexter scored 30 points, including a tiebreaking jumper with 28 seconds remaining, to lead the New York Liberty to a 77-74 victory over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Kia Vaughn took advantage of some extended playing time and scored a season-high 13 points, and Essence Carson added 11 as the Liberty reached the conference finals for the second time in three years.
Katie Douglas scored 24 points, Tamika Catchings had 21 and Ebony Hoffman added 13 for the Fever, who fell to 0-7 in postseason series in which they didn’t have home-court advantage.
BASKETBALL
Celtics sign West
The Boston Celtics announced they have signed 6-foot-3 guard Delonte West, who played his first three seasons with Boston. West has averaged 10 points and 3.7 assists over his career. He was waived last month by Minnesota, which had acquired him a week earlier in a trade with Cleveland.
FOOTBALL
UNC suspends star D-lineman
North Carolina coach Butch Davis has suspended defensive tackle Marvin Austin indefinitely for violating team rules. Davis said in a statement that the suspension “is not a result of the ongoing NCAA review.” Austin, a senior, has been projected as a possible NFL first-round pick. The NCAA is investigating whether Austin and receiver Greg Little received improper benefits from agents.
College news
Iowa says that junior reserve offensive lineman Cody Hundertmark has left the Hawkeyes to focus on his schoolwork. Hundertmark, a 6-foot-4, 285-pounder, played sparingly as a defensive lineman from 2007-09, but switched to the offensive line for the bowl game last season. … Missouri running back Derrick Washington has been dismissed from the team after being charged with sexual assault. The move comes two days after Washington, a team captain, was charged with a single count of felony deviate sexual assault. Washington is accused of entering a former Missouri tutor’s bedroom while visiting her roommate and assaulting the woman while she slept. … Drake University plans to face an all-star team from Mexico in Tanzania next year in what the school says will be the first American football game ever played in Africa. The school announced that the Bulldogs, who compete in the Football Championship Subdivision, will play on May 21 in Moshi, Tanzania, in the inaugural Global Kilimanjaro Bowl.
HOCKEY
New deadline for Kovalchuk deal
The NHL has extended its deadline to Friday for approving Ilya Kovalchuk’s $100 million, 15-year contract with the New Jersey Devils. The NHL has already rejected a front-loaded, 17-year deal valued at $102 million because the structure of the deal would have circumvented the league’s salary cap. The Devils and Kovalchuk submitted the new contract to the league last Friday.
TENNIS
Agassi leads Hall nominees
Andre Agassi leads the list of 2011 nominees for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Owner of a career Grand Slam and an eight-time major champion, Agassi is the only nominee in the recent player category. He retired in 2006. Also on the ballot, announced by the Hall on Wednesday: Thelma Coyne Long and Christine Truman Janes in the master player category, and Mike Davies and Fern Lee “Peachy” Kellmeyer in the contributor category.
VOLLEYBALL
Cougars help fight breast cancer
The Saint Francis women’s volleyball team will feature a “Dig Pink” night in its home opening match Sept. 8 at the Hutzell Center. Proceeds from the 7 p.m. match with Taylor will be donated in the name of Kim Dixon to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. Cancer survivors will be honored with a candle from Vera Bradley.
MISCELLANEOUS
Baseball coaches honor JG writer
Journal Gazette writer Steve Warden received the Outstanding Baseball Media Award from the Indiana High School Coaches Association for his coverage of the 2010 season, which included Carroll winning the Class 4A state title.
