Issues at UMass
Woman sues, alleges Roe of intimidation
A woman is alleging in a lawsuit that University of Massachusetts basketball staff members intimidated her in an effort to keep her quiet about potentially damaging information about the team and staff.
The Springfield Republican reported that Ayanna Hickman said assistant coach Lou Roe and two other staffers imprisoned her by preventing her from leaving a room where they spoke to her in 2013. She previously dated Roe.
The suit says Roe had told Hickman about the use of banned substances by team members, domestic violence by staff members and quashing of potential criminal complaints against unidentified team members.
The university confirmed to The Republican it’s aware of the allegations but declined to comment further. Recently fired coach Derek Kellogg also is named as a defendant.
IndyCar opener surprise
Sebastien Bourdais pulled off a major upset in the IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., driving from last place to a victory that left him in tears.
Bourdais made an offseason move to Dale Coyne Racing, convinced he could help turn around the small team. The French driver brought two engineers from his glory days, Craig Hampson and Olivier Boisson, and was determined to recreate his early success that saw him win four consecutive titles from 2004-07.
A problem in qualifying meant Bourdais started last in the 21-car field, but he fought through the field yesterday to lead 69 of 110 laps to earn his 36th career victory, which broke a tie with Bobby Unser for sixth place on IndyCar’s all-time win list.
Bourdais beat reigning series champion Simon Pagenaud to the finish line by 10.350 seconds. Scott Dixon finished third for Chip Ganassi Racing, in its first race back with Honda.
Nadal starts strong
Rafael Nadal began his bid for a fourth title at tennis’ BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Guido Pella.
Also, No. 4 Kei Nishikori defeated Dan Evans 6-3, 6-4. In women’s thirdround action, 17-year-old American wild-card entry Kayla Day nearly pulled off a major upset but eventually lost to reigning French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Misc.: Spurs lose Kane
English Premier League leading scorer Harry Kane limped off after twisting his right ankle under a 10thminute challenge, but Son Heung-min had a hat trick to propel Tottenham to a 6-0 rout of third-division Millwall to reach soccer’s FA Cup semifinals.
In the lone Premier League game of the day, Liverpool came from behind to beat Burnley, 2-1, to consolidate fourth place, a point behind Tottenham and Manchester City. Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can had the Reds’ goals.
History cruelly repeated itself for Alberto Contador as the Spanish cycle missed out on a third Paris-Nice victory by just two seconds. Colombian rider Sergio Henao clung on to his dwindling overnight lead to win the biggest race of his career.