Sports briefs for April 26, 2004

Monday, April 26, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

Nebraska standout fatally shot at party

Jenna Cooper, 21, a standout on the University of Nebraska women's team, was fatally shot at a party early Sunday morning in Lincoln, Neb.

Cooper, of Louisville, Ky., had surgery after being shot in the throat but died Sunday evening. Police in Lincoln said the shooting occurred when two men got into an argument at a southeast Lincoln house. A bullet struck Cooper after hitting one of the men, 22-year-old Nolan Jenkins, in the head.

Jenkins was listed Sunday night in fair condition. Another 22-year-old man was arrested for the shooting.

Cooper, a defender, was an all-Big 12 player this season and was named the the U.S. Under-20 National Team in 2001 and the Under-21 team in 2002.

"It was an absolute pleasure to have her on the team and to know her as a friend and teammate," said Cornhuskers soccer coach John Walker.

Venus leads U.S.

Venus Williams beat Tina Pisnik to give the United States a 2-1 edge and Lisa Raymond clinched it by beating Katarina Srebotnik as the United States defeated Slovenia 4-1 in a Fed Cup quarterfinal at Portoroz, Slovenia. The American women will meet Austria in July in a semifinal.

Thorpe gets a chance

Australian freestyle star Ian Thorpe, who was disqualified at his nation's Olympic trials last month, will get a chance to defend his gold medal after all because one of the event's two qualifiers, Craig Stevens, decided to drop out of the race in Athens.

Lobos beat Rebels

A 12-4 loss to visiting New Mexico dropped UNLV (25-16, 12-5) into second place in the Mountain West Conference standings, a half-game behind the Lobos.

Armstrong wins

Lance Armstrong cruised to a comfortable win in the Tour de Georgia, his first victory in an American stage race since 1998.