Sports briefs for March 23, 2004

Tuesday, March 23, 2004 | 10:30 a.m.

When the 19-year-old accusing Kobe Bryant of rape enters the court in Eagle, Colo., on Wednesday, it will be the first time she has seen him since their encounter in June.

Bryant, 25, has said the two had consensual sex at a Vail-area resort where the woman worked. He faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation if convicted of felony sexual assault.

The woman will testify behind closed doors at state District Court, in response to a subpoena issued by Bryant's attorneys. They want to convince the judge that her sexual history is relevant and should be introduced as evidence. They have said she had multiple sexual partners before her encounter with Bryant and possibly another partner hours afterward. The defense contends her injuries could have been caused by another sexual partner.

Moore headed home

Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore expected to leave a Denver hospital, two weeks after his neck was broken by Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi. When -- or if -- he will return to the ice was unknown.

UNLV up to second

The UNLV women's team made up three strokes on first-round leader Texas and trailed the 19th-ranked Longhorns by just one headed into today's third and final round of the 13-team Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational at Austin, Texas. UNLV sophomore Sunny Oh was four strokes behind Vanderbilt's Chris Brady for the individual lead.

Cochran wins again

Jimmy Cochran got his second national championship in two days, beating world champion Bode Miller to win the giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Girdwood, Alaska. Cochran won the slalom event on Sunday.

Romanians drugged

Twelve members of Romania's natioanl team tested positive for a substance that causes drowsiness and team officials said they might have been impaired in Saturday's loss to Russia in a European Cup match.