YSU

YSU
Women's basketball
INDIANAPOLIS -- Youngstown State was predicted to finish sixth in the Horizon League in a preseason poll conducted by the league's coaches, sports information directors and selected media Thursday.
The Penguins, who tied for fourth place with an 8-8 record last season, received 116 points UW-Green Bay was picked to defend its 2002 regular season title with 231 points, while UW-Milwaukee finished second in the poll with 204 points.
Loyola (154), Cleveland State (143) and Illinois-Chicago (133) were picked third through fifth, respectively. Detroit, which finished third a year ago, was picked seventh with 91 points while Butler and Wright State rounded out the poll.
YSU sophomore Jen Perugini, the league's Newcomer of the Year in 2002, was named to the second team all-conference preseason team. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season.
LOCAL
Fight changes
YOUNGSTOWN -- Matchmaker Tom Cordell announced that Saturday night's 12-bout card at the Buckeye Elks Youth Center will have more Akron fighters as opponents for local boxers.
Austintown's Chris Koval (9-1), fighting for the Buckeye Elks, is in the featured four-rounder against Zack Page (4-1) from the Warren Boxing Association.
From the Southside Boxing Club Darnell Boone (4-0) remains on the card, but the veteran Billy Lyell has been replaced by standout Junior Olympian Juan Salenis from Campbell.
All fights will be Olympic style bouts with the card sanctioned by the Lake Erie Association of Boxing. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with the doors opening at 6 p.m. and the first bout at 7.
Former lightweight champion Aaron Pryor is expected to be in attendance with ranked heavyweight Larry Donald, who he is training.
NATION
Expos gamesin Puerto Rico
SAN FRANCISCO -- As many as 20 Montreal Expos home games could be moved to Puerto Rico next year under a plan baseball officials discussed before Game 5 of the World Series.
Kwan outof program
SPOKANE, Wash. -- With only a week's notice, Michelle Kwan pulled off a program that had an entire season's polish, easily winning the short program at Skate America.
Fellow American Jennifer Kirk was second and Viktoria Volchkova of Russia was third. Maxim Marinin won the pairs short program with partner Tatiana Totmianina.
NBA news
* WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards cleared up a logjam in their backcourt by trading point guard Chris Whitney to the Denver Nuggets for forward George McCloud.
* NEW YORK -- Latrell Sprewell filed two more appeals against the New York Knicks, regarding a one-game suspension the team handed down Monday after he failed to follow their rehab instructions, and a $50,000 fine for missing a private workout at the team's practice facility.
NFL news
* SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers strong safety Rodney Harrison was suspended without pay for one game by NFL disciplinarian Gene Washington for his third serious rules violation in two seasons, a helmet-to-helmet hit on Oakland's Jerry Rice last Sunday.
* IRVING, Texas -- Emmitt Smith has agreed to give the Pro Football Hall of Fame either the jersey or helmet he wears when he becomes the NFL's career rushing leader.
Smith needs 93 yards to surpass Walter Payton's career record of 16,726.
* NEW YORK -- Hall of Famer Art Shell was hired by the NFL to handle player appeals of on-field disciplinary action.
Fine upheld
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The National Stock Car Racing Commission has upheld a $25,000 fine levied by NASCAR against crew chief Tommy Baldwin for a rule violation pertaining to minimum roof height following the Busch series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
QB suspended
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker, the third-leading passer in school history, was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. Smoker and officials declined to give reasons for the suspension.
WORLD
Tennis roundup
* ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Andre Agassi's bid to win the ATP Champions Race was hurt when he was upset by Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-4 in the St. Petersburg Open second round.
* BASEL, Switzerland -- Andy Roddick eliminated U.S. Davis Cup teammate James Blake 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the Swiss Indoors second round.
* LINZ, Austria -- Alexandra Stevenson beat sixth-seeded Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 7-6 (5) to reach the Generali Open quarterfinals.
* LUXEMBOURG -- Third-seeded Amanda Coetzer lost to qualifier Virginie Razzano 6-3, 6-0 in the SEAT Open second round.
Vindicator staff/wire reports