Sports briefs for October 4, 2004

Monday, Oct. 4, 2004 | 10:03 a.m.

Seattle forces Game 3 in WNBA semifinal

Lauren Jackson scored 23 points and Seattle held off a late Sacramento rally, beating the Monarchs 66-54 in Game 2 on Sunday night to tie the WNBA Western Conference final at 1-1.

After squandering a 14-point lead in the series opener in Sacramento, the Storm charged to a quick lead and then watched the Monarchs nearly pull a repeat of Game 1.

"I think we've seen every type of situation this year with leads," Seattle guard Sue Bird said. "They are really tough."

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Seattle. The winner will travel to Connecticut to face the Sun in the first game of the final Friday.

Connecticut advanced by completing its two-game sweep of the New York Liberty 60-57 behind Taj McWilliams-Franklin's 18 points.

It's Federer again

Top-ranked Roger Federer routed an injured Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-0 to capture the Thailand Open in Bangkok, joining John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg as the only players to win 12 consecutive ATP Tour finals in the past 25 years.

TV man found dead

John Cerutti, a former Toronto pitcher and current Blue Jays television announcer, was found dead in his hotel room Sunday, the team said. He was 44. It was believed Cerutti died of natural causes and foul play was not suspected, the Blue Jays said in a statement.

U.S. women win

Kristine Lilly scored her 100th career goal and Mia Hamm gave Portland fans a final thrill with two goals in the U.S. women's national team's 5-0 victory against New Zealand in the latest installment of the team's "Fan Appreciation Tour."

Skorich dies

Nick Skorich, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1961-63 and the offensive line coach on the 1960 championship team, has died at the age of 83. Skorich, a longtime resident of Princeton, N.J., died Saturday night of an apparent infection after recent heart-valve surgery.