Timberwolves hope to put Lakers on brink
MINNEAPOLIS, April 29 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant will have to go on without a valuable member of their supporting cast, and Minnesota hopes to take advantage.
Tim Duncan is confident his team will advance, and the Indiana Pacers are hoping Reggie Miller can start living up to his playoff reputation.
Those are some of the storylines in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday.
With O'Neal and Bryant leading the way, the Lakers rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Timberwolves Sunday, 102-97, to even their Western Conference first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
Instructing his teammates to "get me the ball and move out of the way," O'Neal scored 34 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Bryant added 32 points.
If the Lakers are to win a fourth straight NBA title, they will have to do it without forward Rick Fox, a strong defender. He suffered a torn tendon in his left foot in the first quarter of Sunday's game and will miss the rest of the playoffs.
Fox had done a standout job on Timberwolves forward Wally Szczerbiak, who averaged just 10 shots in the first four games of the series. Devean George likely will start at small forward, and Brian Shaw should get increased minutes off the bench for the Lakers.
"It's a big loss for us," Bryant said. "Rick is a playoff veteran, but we need everybody to step up defensively if we want to win this series."
As expected, Kevin Garnett has been Minnesota's primary offensive force, but the Lakers have had trouble containing guard Troy Hudson. Garnett had 28 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists, and Hudson also had 28 points in Sunday's loss.
The Timberwolves managed a split in the two games at Los Angeles to regain homecourt advantage in the series. They hope to put it to use Tuesday night in Game Five at the Target Center.
Minnesota never has advanced in the playoffs, losing in the first round each of the previous six years.
Top-seeded San Antonio is even with the Phoenix Suns at two games apiece in the other Western Conference series that resumes Tuesday.
Duncan, San Antonio's superstar forward, does not appear too concerned.
"We're back in San Antonio to get one, and then we'll go back to Phoenix and win that one," he predicted.
That doesn't seem to affect the Suns.
"We're confident that we can win," said Phoenix point guard Stephon Marbury. "We're going to need to raise our game to another level, but we believe we can win in San Antonio."
Jake Voskuhl was the unlikely hero in the Suns' 86-84 triumph at Phoenix on Sunday, hitting the winning hook shot over Duncan with 2.3 seconds left.
The Spurs reclaimed home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series with a victory in Game Three, but squandered a 12-point advantage in the fourth quarter of Game Four as the Suns closed with a 22-9 run.
Duncan had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen each added 19 points for the Spurs, who could not overcome 25 turnovers, leading to 33 points.
The Boston Celtics are on the verge of becoming the first team to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, winning the last two games at home to take a 3-1 lead over the Indiana Pacers.
Game Five is Tuesday at Indiana, which needs to do a better job of containing Paul Pierce, who set a team playoff record with 32 points in the second half of Boston's 102-92 victory on Sunday.
After being held to five points in the first half, Pierce eclipsed the club mark of 30 points in a half shared by Larry Bird and John Havlicek.
The Pacers need to be rescued by Reggie Miller, who has built his reputation of big performances in the playoffs, but has come up empty in this series.
The sharp-shooting guard is averaging 9.8 points and shooting just 29 percent from the field (10-for-35). In the last two losses at Boston, he was 1-of-10 from the field.
"I think it is all about rhythm," he said. "You have to get into a rhythm, and you have to get shots. Right now, the shots are not there for me."
"I would never count Reggie out, but clearly we didn't expect the playoffs to be like this for Reggie," said Indiana Coach Isiah Thomas. "It's not over yet."
Also, the second-seeded New Jersey Nets host Milwaukee in the other Eastern Conference Game Five on Tuesday.
The Bucks evened that series at two games apiece with a 119-114 overtime win on Saturday after squandering a 14-point lead with 6 1/2 minutes left. New Jersey held Milwaukee scoreless for more than five minutes down the stretch, but missed 8-of-12 free throws during its comeback.
Rick Fox done for season
MINNEAPOLIS, April 29 (UPI) -- Veteran Los Angeles Lakers forward Rick Fox will miss the rest of the postseason after suffering a torn tendon in his left foot.
The injury occurred in Sunday's 102-97 victory over the Minnesota
Timberwolves.
Fox will require surgery to repair the injury, which occurred early in the first quarter while he was chasing Minnesota forward Wally Szczerbiak.
An MRI revealed the extent of the injury.
"We won't know what that does to us," Jackson said of the absence. "That's an effect that we still have yet to understand."
Fox is sixth on the team in playoff scoring at 6.0 points per game on 44 percent shooting. He started every playoff game in the past two championship runs, was a key reserve when the Lakers won the title in 2000, and has been the most reliable member of the Lakers' supporting cast.
Coupled with, among other things, the sore shoulder of Kobe Bryant, puts heavy pressure on the Lakers to win their fourth straight NBA title.
"That's kind of the story of this year," said guard Brian Shaw, whose minutes likely will increase dramatically. "This has been a real struggle. I think that when it's all said and done, if we get to where we're trying to go, that will make it all more worth the while, having gone through what we've had to go through."
Fox averaged 8.0 points in the first three games of the best-of-seven series, which is tied at two wins apiece heading into Tuesday's game at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Iverson officially named to Team USA
COLORADO SPRINGS, April 29 (UPI) -- Representing his country should be a better experience for Jermaine O'Neal this time, especially with Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant as teammates.
USA Basketball Tuesday announced that NBA All-Stars Iverson, Bryant, and O'Neal have been added to the United States Olympic team.
Jermaine, who plays for the Indiana Pacers, and is called the "other" O'Neal in a league with Shaquille (of the Los Angeles Lakers), was a member of the U.S. team that sullied the country's reputation with a sixth-place finish in the World Basketball Championships at Puerto Rico last summer.
However, that team was missing players like Iverson, Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Tracy McGrady, all of whom will participate this time for Team USA.
"They have paid their dues in our league, and have made unbelievable contributions to their teams," said Philadelphia Coach Larry Brown, who was named on Nov. 26 as the USA's head mentor. "It is a great honor for them, and I am happy for all three of them. "From a personal standpoint, I am thrilled to death (about Iverson's selection). It just shows the respect that everyone in the league has for Allen and what he has done. He has made unbelievable contributions to our game. This is the culmination of a career that has gotten better every year, and he continues to learn the game and get better."
Brown also was happy for both Bryant and O'Neal.
"Kobe has had a remarkable career," said Brown. "He has won three championships so quickly. He is as good of an all around player that we have in our league. I hope this is one of many opportunities he gets to represent his county in this way because he is what our Olympic team is all about. Jermaine has gotten better every year. He is one of the main reasons Indiana has been an improving team. He is one of the best young players in our league."
Duncan, McGrady, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, Karl Malone, and Mike Bibby already had been chosen for the team, which must qualify for the 2004 Olympics by finishing among the top three in the Tournament of the Americas in August in Puerto Rico.
NBA again disciplines Rasheed Wallace
PORTLAND, Ore., April 29 (UPI) -- Forward Rasheed Wallace of the Portland Trail Blazers has been fined $30,000 by the NBA for violating the NBA's media interview access policies.
The fines come from two separate incidents.
Wallace was docked $10,000 for "failing to cooperate" during the media interview session following Sunday's 98-79 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of their Western Conference first-round series.
He was fined an additional $20,000 for not participating in Monday's interview period following the Blazers' practice.
The 10,000 fine came after Wallace mocked reporters after Sunday's victory at the Rose Garden by giving the same answer, "Both teams played hard," to the five questions he was asked.
"I feel sorry for the people asking the questions, and I feel sorry for him," Portland Coach Maurice Cheeks told the Portland Oregonian after Monday's practice. "Maybe we just don't put him in that position again. He doesn't really want to talk to the press, for whatever reason. I don't condone his actions, and I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but if you've got questions to ask, just ask me, and I'll try to relay his message as best as I can."
The team also was fined $50,000, $25,000 for each incident, for failing to ensure that its players complied with NBA media interview rules.
Paper calls for ouster of Eustachy
DES MOINES, Iowa, April 29 (UPI) -- The Des Moines Register Tuesday called for the ouster of Iowa State men's basketball coach Larry Eustachy, whose escapades have been made public by the paper.
In an editorial Tuesday, the paper said Eustachy was "the coach who let ISU down," and added "only one outcome is possible. Eustachy let the university down and undermined the basketball program. The question is whether it is possible to repair the damage. Can parents and student athletes still trust him to be a leader? Not likely. He has to go."
Eustachy spent all day Monday trying to deflect his behavior earlier this year at a student party.
The "after-hours" party took place at an apartment near the University of Missouri campus.
The Des Moines Register reported Monday that Eustachy went to the party with Josh Kroenke, a member of the Missouri squad, shortly after the Cyclones' 64-59 loss to the Tigers on Jan. 23. The paper said that at his news conference after the game, Eustachy had described himself as "as disappointed as I've been in a long time," and criticized his players, saying: "This is the real world. Our guys have to get tougher."
The paper Monday printed 12 photographs showing Eustachy during the early hours of Jan. 23, with beer, and in several photos embracing and kissing women on the cheek or being kissed on the cheek.
The paper said Eustachy issued a statement to the Register Thursday in which he confirmed meeting with President Gregory Geoffroy and Iowa State Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde about the incident, which the Register said was not the first.
"In the past, I have made some poor decisions that I regret," Eustachy, who is married and has two children, said in his statement. "I talked with President Geoffroy and Bruce Van De Velde last week about a variety of issues. I love Iowa State University and all the people who support our team. It's important to represent ISU in a manner that sheds a positive light on the university and the Cyclone men's basketball team."
The paper also reported that in January 2002, the coach was at an early-morning fraternity party in Manhattan, Kan., hours after his team lost a game to Kansas State. On that occasion, a fraternity member said he wound up in an argument with Eustachy because he found the coach's arm around his 19-year-old sister.
The woman told the Register that Eustachy walked into the house and complimented her on her appearance, saying that she should be attending the University of Kansas, where the girls are "much hotter."
There was no word from Van De Velde or Geoffroy on whether Eustachy would be disciplined or otherwise.
"I wouldn't discuss that at this point," Van De Velde told the paper. "No comment. Larry understands that he has made a poor decision and not used good judgment. He understands, and we have made it clear to him, the importance of his public image and the obligations he has for the institution, and he has expressed remorse to our university administration and to me. Coach Eustachy has been forthcoming since and has expressed remorse. He has told us he has used bad judgment and that he made bad decisions. He has admitted that."
Eustachy is the highest-paid state employee in Iowa, making upwards of $1 million annually.
He has been the head coach at Iowa State the past five years, won back-to-back Big 12 Conference championships in 2000 and 2001, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in 2000, when Eustachy was named national coach of the year.
Wild, Flyers return home in NHL playoffs
MINNEAPOLIS, April 29 (UPI) -- The unlikely and the unorthodox return home Tuesday night as the NHL playoffs continue with a pair of games.
The cinderella Minnesota Wild host Vancouver, and Roman Cechmanek and the Philadelphia Flyers entertain top-seeded Ottawa, with both home teams seeking leads in their respective conference semifinal series.
The Wild evened their best-of-seven series at one game apiece with Sunday night's 3-2 win at GM Place. Sergei Zholtok and Wes Walz scored 63 seconds apart early in the second period to build a 3-1 lead, and goaltender Dwayne Roloson did the rest.
Roloson should be in the nets Tuesday as the Wild look to move within a win of the Western Conference finals. This is the first postseason appearance for the three-year-old Wild, who stunned third-seeded Colorado in the first round.
The fourth-seeded Canucks began their series as heavy favorites, but needed overtime to win Game One, and never got going in Game Two as the top line of Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi, and Brendan Morrison was held to a minus-2 rating and six shots.
Frustrated by his team's inability to tie it in the closing seconds, Bertuzzi picked up one of five misconduct penalties at the 20-minute mark of the third period as the teams got together near the benches.
Bertuzzi threw a punch at Brad Brown, making for an interesting sub-plot to Game Three.
Game Four is Friday night at Minnesota.
The Flyers are trying to get to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in three years. Whether they do or not likely will depend on the play of Cechmanek, their unorthodox goalie.
Cechmanek, taking a page out of the book of friend and fellow Czech Dominik Hasek, slid and sprawled his way to a 33-save shutout Sunday night as the Flyers scored in the first and third periods for a 2-0 win, evening the series at a game apiece.
With the victory, the Flyers snapped a five-game playoff losing streak against Ottawa, which won last year's conference quarterfinal series in five games, allowing only two goals.
Philadelphia continues to struggle offensively against the Senators, but Cechmanek is third among playoff goaltenders with a 1.75 goals-against average.
Despite their high-powered offense, the Senators also have had trouble putting the puck in the net, totaling only 17 goals in seven postseason games. They, too, have gotten solid goaltending, with Patrick Lalime ranking second in GAA (1.50) and save percentage (.940).
Game Four is Thursday in Philadelphia.
Report: Empire Maker has bruised foot
LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 29 (UPI) -- Empire Maker, the favorite for Saturday's 129th Kentucky Derby, reportedly has a bruised foot that needed attention Tuesday morning.
The horse got that attention from a veterinarian and farrier at Churchill Downs.
According to the Daily Racing Form, Empire Maker jogged Tuesday, but trainer Bobby Frankel later had veterinarian Dr. Ken Reed examine the right front foot. Steve Norman, a local blacksmith, also worked on it.
Despite the injury, Frankel did not seem to think the star colt would miss the first leg of the Triple Crown.
"Don't worry, he's going to be fine," Frankel told the Daily Racing Form. "Put it this way -- if he's not right, he's not going to run."
Frankel told the Daily Racing Form that Empire Maker's shoe was filed and trimmed to relieve pressure on the bruise. He said the colt would have the foot soaked in hot water and Epsom salts Tuesday before galloping Wednesday.
Norman has had success with such situations.
He constructed the egg bar shoes that allowed Unbridled's Song to run in the 1996 Derby.
The Daily Racing Form also reported Tuesday that Kafwain, the third-place finisher in the Santa Anita Derby, was pulled out of the race with an apparent injury to the right foreleg.
Yankees to activate Rivera
NEW YORK, April 29 (UPI) -- The already well-armed New York Yankees Tuesday are expected to welcome back pitcher Mariano Rivera, arguably the best closer in the history of baseball.
Rivera has yet to pitch this season because of a groin strain suffered March 24 in his last appearance of spring training. He pitched a perfect inning Saturday in his third extended spring outing.
The four-time All-Star should join the team Tuesday in the opener of a six-game homestand against the Seattle Mariners, a series billed more as the first major league meeting between Japanese stars Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki.
Despite the sideshow, the Yankees get back one of their most valuable players. Over the last six seasons, Rivera has established himself as one of the most dominant closers in history, recording 238 saves, including a record 25 in the postseason.
Without the hard-throwing righthander, all the Yankees have done is get off to the best 25-game start (20-5) in the 100-year history of their storied franchise, and third-best in the history of the game. They have a four-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.
Even more good news could be on the way for the Yankees, who have been without star shortstop Derek Jeter since Opening Day because of a dislocated shoulder. He hit off a tee for the first time Monday, and continued to take ground balls.
Rivera's return comes at a good time for the Yankees, whose bullpen is hanging on by a thread.
Top setup man Steve Karsay has been on the disabled list all season, and recently was joined by fellow righthander Antonio Osuna.
In Rivera's absence, Juan Acevedo did a respectable job in the closer's role, and will be moved to setup.
The Yankees must make a roster move to activate Rivera from the 15-day disabled list, likely lefthander Randy Choate being sent back to Triple-A Columbus.
Curt Schilling placed on DL
PHOENIX, April 29 (UPI) -- All-Star righthander righthander Curt Schilling of Arizona was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday, but expects to make his next start on Saturday.
The move was retroactive to April 18, the day before Schilling underwent an emergency appendectomy in St. Louis.
Schilling, 36, has missed two starts and is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA in four outings this season, his 16th in the major leagues, fourth with Arizona.
"The arm is not really the question," Schilling told the Arizona Republic. "It's a matter of mobility now, being able to get off the mound to field my position and do those little things, to accelerate and move quickly, and get off mound is something I can't do right now."
Last year, Schilling again combined with lefthander Randy Johnson to form one of baseball's most formidable 1-2 pitching tandems. Schilling was 23-7 with a 3.23 ERA and struck out 316 in 36 games, including 35 starts.
To fill his roster spot, the Diamondbacks activated catcher Rod Barajas from the 15-day DL.
Barajas has not played since April 7, missing 18 games because of a strained left hamstring. He went 7-for-16 with a home run and four RBI in a four-game rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Tucson after going 2-for-10 to open the season for Arizona.
Burnett to have elbow surgery
PHOENIX, April 29 (UPI) -- Oft-injured righthander A.J. Burnett of the Florida Marlins will undergo surgery on his pitching elbow Tuesday, a procedure that could end his season.
Burnett was examined Monday by arm specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. An MRI revealed a torn ligament, and Andrews will perform the surgery.
"They are talking about going in arthroscopically first and check what it is," said Florida Manager Jeff Torborg, who already has been quote as saying "sick, just sick," by the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on reports that Burnett will miss at least one year.
If the damage is extensive, doctors could opt for "Tommy John" surgery that would sideline Burnett at least a year.
The Sun-Sentinel said Tuesday, that if the report is accurate, Burnett will be gone at least a year, and possibly up to 18 months, meaning he could be sidelined until spring training 2005.
"We were all shocked," his agent, Darek Braunecker, told the newspaper. "In fact, reality hasn't quite set in yet."
Burnett was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, one day after he gave up five runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings against St. Louis. He is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts.
This is Burnett's third stint on the DL in less than a year. He missed nearly a month last August with a bone bruise in his pitching elbow, and was sidelined earlier this month with tightness in his right forearm.
The fifth-overall pick in the 1995 draft by the New York Mets, Burnett showed signs of his overmatching stuff on May 12, 2001, pitching a nine-walk, no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.
Acquired in a deal involving Al Leiter, Burnett is 30-32 in 82 major league appearances, going 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts this year.
To fill his roster spot Monday night, the Marlins recalled righthander Justin Wayne from Triple-A Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League. The 24-year-old Wayne gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings Monday night in a 7-1 loss at Arizona.
Wayne was 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA in two starts with Albuquerque. The fifth overall pick in the 2000 draft was acquired from Montreal last July in the deal that sent outfielder Cliff Floyd to the Expos.
On Tuesday, the Marlins sent Wayne to Triple-A Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League and recalled lefthander Tommy Phelps.
Red Sox put Chad Fox on DL
BOSTON, April 29 (UPI) -- Righthander Chad Fox of the Boston Red Sox has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle.
Fox, who leads the team's bullpen by committee with three saves, blew a save in Sunday's 6-4, 14-inning victory at Anaheim, allowing a run, a hit and a walk while retiring just one batter.
While he leads the team in saves, he also leads with two blown saves.
Asked why Fox might be having control problems, Boston Manager Grady Little couldn't pinpoint the problem Sunday night.
"I'm not really sure," Little said, "but it's something that's not really conducive to winning games."
Signed as a free agent last December, Fox is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 10 relief appearances.
The Red Sox will make a corresponding roster move before Tuesday's game with the Kansas City Royals. They could activate lefthander Alan Embree, who has been on the disabled list since April 9 with a shoulder injury, but completed a rehabilitation stint with Single-A Sarasota on Sunday.
Changes made at Wimbledon
LONDON, April 29 (UPI) -- Participants in this year's singles tournament at Wimbledon will receive a 9.5 percent pay increase.
Also, the players won't have to bow or curtsy to the Royal Box on their way to collecting it.
Prize money increases for the singles event only, and the abolition of the time-honored tradition were revealed Tuesday by the All-England Club.
This year's men's champion will walk away with more than $910,000, an increase of nearly $80,000. The women's winner will collect over $850,000, up more than $77,000 from last season.
Doubles prize money was frozen at last year's level, with women again being declined equal pay. All-England Chairman Tim Phillips defended both moves.
"We try to follow the market," he said. "If you look at the prize money split at ATP Tour events, it is 17 percent doubles and 83 percent singles. We will be paying 23 percent doubles and 77 percent singles. We feel that doubles has perhaps been overrewarded in relation to singles."
On the subject of equal pay, Phillips added, "We like to think our prize money is driven by market data and fairness."
He pointed out that last year's women's champion, Serena Williams, actually left Wimbledon with more money than men's winner Lleyton Hewitt because she also played doubles.
"The situation is that the women play much shorter matches while the men feel they cannot succeed in both singles and doubles," Phillips said. "Serena Williams earned 11 percent more than Lleyton Hewitt last year. She played 27 sets and Lleyton played 23 sets. She made more appearances, which lasted less time, and collected more money. The top-10 women earn three percent more than the top-10 men. The men made 609 pounds (approximately $969) per game, and the women 815 pounds ($1,300). We feel we are not far away in terms of fairness with what we do."
The male players also have stated their case for an increase, but Phillips pointed out "the more money that goes into prize money, the less goes back into the development of the game. You could say, 'Let's take a whole great wallop and put it into these people's pockets,' but if you suddenly do that, then obviously you lessen the capability to make the contribution for the benefit of the grass roots."
Last year, Wimbledon's contribution to the Lawn Tennis Association, which largely funds the development of the game in Britain, fell.
"We do the best we can," Phillips said. "The sports' rights market took a dip in recent years, and nobody knows what it will do over the next three or four years."
The All-England Club has agreed to a new four-year deal with NBC Sports, which will network the championships in the USA for the 35th consecutive year, and also has signed a four-year agreement with ESPN.
Grant named at Southern University
BATON ROUGE, La., April 29 (UPI) -- Southern University has named Michael Grant the school's new men's basketball coach.
He replaces Ben Jobe, who retired in March after the Jaguars went just 9-20 overall this past season.
Grant comes to the Southwestern Athletic Conference school after a seven-year stint at Central (Ohio) State, where he went 126-94 after serving as an assistant at Cleveland State, Kentucky State, Allegheny College, Michigan, and Malone College, where he started in 1983-84.
"I'm just thankful (Chancellor) Dr. (Edward) Jackson, President (Leon) Tarver, and (Athletic Director) Floyd Kerr had the confidence in me," said Grant, who has to be approved by the school's Board of Supervisors on May 16. "Southern is one of the elite black-college athletic programs in the country, and I think it's an honor and a privilege for me to even be considered."
According to the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate, Grant has yet to discuss contract details with the school.
Southern's basketball program last went to the NCAA Tournament in 1993. The Jaguars have suffered through three losing seasons, including two 20-loss seasons under Jobe.
Mercury trade for Brown, Williams
PHOENIX, April 29 (UPI) -- The Phoenix Mercury have acquired veteran guard Edwina Brown and second-year forward Lenae Williams from the Detroit Shock.
They sent Detroit two players taken in last week's WNBA draft, center Petra Ujhelyi, their second-round choice, and guard Telisha Quarles, a third-round pick.
"I'm thrilled to add Edwina Brown and Lenae Williams to this Mercury team," said first-year Phoenix Coach John Shumate. "Edwina brings three years of experience and athleticism to this team while Lenae will add another scoring weapon to the mix."
In another deal, the Shock acquired the draft rights to guard Allison Curtin from the Houston Comets for guard Dominique Canty.
Brown was the third overall pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft after a stellar college career at Texas. In 92 games with Detroit, the 5-9 guard averaged 5.9 points and 2.4 assists per game.
At Texas, Brown, 24, averaged 21.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.9 steals per contest, and won the 2000 Wade Trophy, given to the best women's player in the nation.
Williams averaged 2.7 points in 27 games in her rookie season with the Shock, who selected Williams in the second round of last year's draft.
The 6-4 Ujhelyi was the 16th overall pick in last Friday's draft. She averaged 8.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists last season at South Carolina.
Quarles, selected 31st overall, averaged 15.7 points last year at Virginia. The 5-8 guard led the Cavaliers in scoring, and recorded double-digit scoring efforts 27 out of 30 games.
Canty averages 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 114 games for the Shock.
NASCAR suspends Truck series driver Rose
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 29 (UPI) -- NASCAR Craftsman Truck series driver Brian Rose has been suspended indefinitely for "actions deemed detrimental to stock car racing."
NASCAR officials did not divulge specifics of Rose's actions, and did not announce any further details regarding the suspension.
Rose, 23, has competed in two of this season's four Craftsman Truck series races with Carpenter Group Racing, and is 30th in the standings. He finished 24th two weeks ago at Martinsville Speedway, and 14th last month at Darlington Raceway.
In 38 career Truck series starts, Rose's best finish was third at last year's season-opening race at Daytona Beach, Fla.
