Sports briefs for July 8, 2004

Thursday, July 8, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

UNLV's Sadekar makes LPGA field

UNLV sophomore-to-be Seema Sadekar shot 73 to earn one of four qualifying spots in the LPGA BMO Financial Group Canadian Women's Open this week.

Sadekar, 19, of nearby Aurora, Ontario, is one of a tournament-record 19 Canadians to play in the event this year, which began today at the Battlefield Course at the Legends on the Niagara.

She becomes just the second Rebel in school history to play in an LPGA event, joining former teammate Sunny Oh, who competed in the Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas in April.

Sadekar is the Rebels' top returning player, ending last year ranked 104th nationally.

Buckeyes snare Matta

Thad Matta accepted an offer to become Ohio State's next basketball coach.

Ohio State sports information director Steve Snapp said the school would hold a news conference Friday to formally introduce Matta.

Matta took Xavier to the NCAA tournament's regional finals in March. He had a 78-23 record in three years with the Musketeers. He was 24-8 in his only season as head coach at his alma mater, Butler.

Avalanche hires coach

Joel Quenneville was hired to coach the Colorado Avalanche, replacing Tony Granato, who will become his assistant.

Quenneville was the coach of the St. Louis Blues from January 1997 until this February, when he was fired during a 4-12 slump.

In five of his six full seasons at St. Louis, Quenneville led the Blues to at least 40 regular-season wins. They won 307 regular-season games but went 34-34 in the postseason.

Giroux split time last season between Albany of the AHL and the New Jersey Devils. He had three assists and four penalty minutes in 11 games with the Devils.

He also had 11 goals and 17 assists in 65 games for Albany.

Argentina cruises

Javier Saviola scored three times, and tournament favorite Argentina routed Ecuador 6-1 in Group B play at Copa America.

Defender Paolo Montero put home a header off a corner kick in the 88th minute for undermanned Uruguay in a 2-2 tie with Mexico. Richard Morales was sent off only seven minutes before the tying goal for a late body tackle on Pavel Pardo.

Brazil remained No. 1 for the 25th straight month.