Sports Briefs

Milwaukee, St. Mary's water tower

     The NCAA hit Minnesota with two more years of probation on Tuesday, for rule-breaking in the women's basketball program, but spared the school harsher penalties.

    The women's basketball team will forfeit a scholarship in each of the two seasons, and recruiting will be trimmed back. The NCAA declined to shut down the program for two seasons, which was a possibility under the NCAA's repeat violator rule, and didn't ban the Gophers from postseason play.

    Minnesota already was serving four years' probation for academic cheating uncovered in the men's program in 1999. Tuesday's action extends the probation until October 2006.

    New head coach Pam Borton, who took the job just two months ago despite the pending sanctions, said she was relieved that she no longer has to reassure recruits nervous about the NCAA's so-called "death penalty."

    "I'm excited that this is over and that this is done," Borton said. "We can move on."

    Tiger opts out of Western

    LEMONT, Ill. - Tiger Woods withdrew Tuesday from this week's Advil Western Open, citing an unspecified illness.

    Woods made the announcement on his Web site. He notified the PGA of his decision about Tuesday morning, Western Open spokesman Gary Holloway said.

    The $4 million tournament begins Thursday at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont. Scott Hoch is the defending champion.

    Final All-Stars announced

    NEW YORK - Andruw Jones and Johnny Damon won an Internet runoff for the final two spots in next week's All-Star game.

    More than 750,000 voters cast about 3.1 million ballots at mlb.com between Sunday night and Tuesday. AL manager Joe Torre and NL skipper Bob Brenly picked five players to compete for the final spot.

    Jones, the Atlanta Braves' center fielder, beat out Pittsburgh's Brian Giles by more than 70,000 votes. St. Louis' Albert Pujols was third, followed by San Diego's Ryan Klesko and Colorado's Larry Walker.

    Jones came into the day hitting .275 with 19 homers and 54 RBIs.

    Panthers eye Prime Time

    NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa - The Northern Iowa men's basketball team hopes the summertime is what makes a basketball team great.

    The Panthers are taking steps to be like the Oregon and Southern Illinois teams of 2001-02 by playing in the Prime Time League.

    "Southern Illinois really stressed that last summer is what made them a great team. That's the level we want to go to," said sophomore Pete Schmit, who sat out last season after transferring from Wisconsin.

    Thirteen Panthers are driving 75 miles Cedar Falls to the North Liberty Community Center to compete in the league on Mondays and Thursdays. Two walk-ons and a junior-college transfer are the only ones who aren't playing.

    Sophomore guard Chris Foster said the team's commitment to playing this summer reflects the influence Coach Greg McDermott has had on the players after only a year on the job.

    Penn wants Bucks job

    MILWAUKEE - Former Ohio State star Scoonie Penn is confident as he seeks to win a job as a backup to Sam Cassell with the Milwaukee Bucks.

    "Talent-wise, I don't doubt I'm ready," the 5-foot-10 point guard said Monday at the National Basketball Association team's free-agent minicamp.

    Penn was a second-round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2000 and was cut early in the season, then played in Rome and Italy. He latched on last year with the Asheville Altitude of the National Basketball Developmental League and averaged nine points, five assists and 1.6 steals.

    Jones-Woods duel set

    MIAMI - Roy Jones Jr.'s title bout against Britain's Clinton Woods will be held on Sept. 7, but a site for the fight has yet to be selected.

    Fire burns Rockers

    CLEVELAND - LaQuanda Barksdale completed a 3-point play with 15.2 seconds left to give the Portland Fire a 68-64 victory over the Cleveland Rockers on Tuesday night.

    Liberty quiets Storm

    NEW YORK - Tari Phillips scored 19 points as the New York Liberty snapped a two-game losing streak.

    Tamika Whitmore had 15 points for the Liberty (9-8).

    Vickie Johnson added 14, and Crystal Robinson had 13 as New York won for just the second time in seven games.

    An official announcement for the fight, Jones' mandatory World Boxing Council defense, will not come for at least a week, Brad Jacobs, one of Jones' advisers, said Tuesday.

    Jones, the undisputed light heavyweight champion, is 46-1 with 37 knockouts. Woods, the WBC's top-rated contender, is 31-1 with 18 knockouts.