CU, CSU WOMEN BOTH WIN OPENERS TO ADVANCE IN WNIT
boulder» Sophomore guard Kennedy Leonard scored 23 points and had five assists to lead the University of Colorado women’s basketball team to a 66-52 victory over UNLV on Thursday night at the Coors Events Center in the first round of the WNIT.
Alexis Robinson added 16 points and Haley Smith had 11 as CU ended a three-game losing streak and improved to 16-15. UNLV finished 22-11.
The Buffs travel to South Dakota State for a second-round game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado State survived an upset bid by Saint Mary’s by outscoring the visitors 18-6 in overtime as the Rams won 80-68 to advance in the WNIT.
Forward Elin Gustavsson poured in 28 points for CSU (25-8). The Gaels finished 20-13. Guard Sofie Tryggedsson added 18 points for the Rams.
Vesnina beats Venus in 3 sets
B indian wells, calif.» Elena Vesnina recovered after blowing three match points to beat Venus Williams 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Vesnina staved off six break points in the last game, closing out the 71minute match with two forehand winners. Williams overcame three match points on her serve on three straight errors by Vesnina in the eighth game that featured six deuces and lasted for 9½ minutes.
NFL hires second female official
B new york» A person with knowledge of the hiring told The Associated Press the NFL is adding a second female official, Terri Valenti, to work as a replay booth assistant next season.
Valenti will join Sarah Thomas, who has been a line judge since 2015.
Valenti previously worked in college football, the Arena League and the UFL, which no longer is in business. She has also been a Navy engineer and economics professor.
She has experience as a replay communicator from 2012-16 and worked Super Bowl 50.
• The Los Angeles Rams signed defensive back Kayvon Webster and re-signed kicker Greg Zuerlein. The Rams also signed free-agent running back Lance Dunbar.
Webster was a key special-teams contributor for the Broncos for the past four years. He hopes to play more as a defensive back under Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who ran Denver’s defense for the past two years.
• The Dallas Cowboys re-signed veteran running back Darren McFadden and guard Jonathan Cooper.
McFadden will be a backup to Ezekiel Elliott, the league’s leading rushing as a rookie last season. Cooper adds depth on the offensive line that lost Ron Leary to the Broncos in free agency.
Former college athlete set for trial
B auburn, neb.» A former Peru State College basketball player accused of stabbing three other athletes at his school is scheduled for a May trial.
Court records said 24-year-old Jeffland Neverson of New York pleaded not guilty to assault, use of a weapon and tampering with evidence — all felonies. His trial is set to begin May 1 in Nemaha County District Court in Auburn.
Authorities say the crimes occurred after a fight broke out Sept. 17 last year about a block from the Peru State stadium in Peru, Neb. Several Peru State football and basketball players were involved in the melee. At least three of the athletes required medical treatment.
Footnotes.
Steve Penny resigned as president of USA Gymnastics following intensified pressure on the organization for its handling of sex abuse cases. … Penn State, looking to win its sixth national championship in seven years, took an early lead after two rounds of the NCAA Wrestling Championships.