Sports briefs for May 20, 2004

Thursday, May 20, 2004 | 11:13 a.m.

Rebels shave nine strokes at NCAAs

The 14th-ranked UNLV women's golf team trimmed nine strokes off its opening round total, shooting a team 299 Wednesday in the second round of the NCAA championship in Opelika, Ala.

The Rebels showed improved play throughout the lineup, but did not make much of a move on the leader board. They were in 23rd place, but 12 teams were still on the course when play was suspended because of lightning. Those teams were to finish this morning.

Leading the Rebels on Wednesday was sophomore Elena Kurokawa. Kurokawa shot a 1-over 73 and, combined with her opening round of 74, now sits at 3-over. Also at 3-over for the Rebels is sophomore Sunny Oh. Oh birdied her last hole to shoot 75. Freshman Seema Sadekar also pitched in a 75, rebounding from an 84 in the opening round.

Crisp honored

Senior pitcher Shannon Crisp of Centennial High School was named the Gatorade Nevada High School Softball Player of the Year today.

Crisp (26-3, 0.44 ERA) will lead Centennial into state tournament play beginning Friday in Carson City. She plans to attend UNLV in the fall.

Utah's Bogut to return

Utah forward/center Andrew Bogut plans to return for his sophomore season.

New coach Ray Giacoletti returned Wednesday from Australia, where he met with Bogut and his parents and was told by Bogut he would be coming back to the Utes and not going professional.

Blackhawks ink coach

The Chicago Blackhawks signed coach Brian Sutter to a one-year contract extension.

The Blackhawks went 20-43-11-8 this season and finished last in the Western Conference. Their 20 wins were the fewest in the NHL, and the lowest total by the Blackhawks since the 1956-57 team won 16. Chicago also had a franchise-record 19-game losing streak.

Sutter is 451-422-140-15 with eight playoff appearances in 13 years as an NHL coach.

Sosa placed on DL

Sammy Sosa was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his lower back, an ailment that was brought on by two violent sneezes Sunday in San Diego.

Sosa is on the DL for the fifth time in his 16-year career.