SPORTS digest

YSU women add three basketball recruits

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State head women’s basketball coach John Barnes announced Wednesday that Gabby Lupardus, Madison Mallory and Taylor Petit signed national letters-of-intent.

Lupardus is a 5-foot-8 guard from Pineville, W.Va., and Petit is also a 5-foot-8 guard who hails from Schofield, Wis. Mallory is a 6-foot-2 post from Geneva, Ill.

Lupardus has averaged 16.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 steals at Wyoming County East High School and returns for her senior year after missing most of last season with a knee injury.

Petit has been Everest Senior High School’s leading scorer for three straight seasons. She averaged 17.3 points in 2016-17 while adding 5.5 rebounds and a league-best 5.5 assists.

In her first season at Geneva High School as a junior, Mallory helped the Vikings (29-4) win a state title in Class 4A. She also she competed at the state tournament as a freshman at Montini Catholic. As an individual, she competed in the 3-point contest at the state tournament as both a freshman and a sophomore. Geneva is about 40 miles west of Chicago.

Auburn fires indicted basketball assistant

AUBURN, Ala.

Auburn has fired associate head basketball coach Chuck Person, who has been indicted on federal bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges.

The university announced the move Wednesday, a day after Person, 53, and seven others were indicted by a federal grand jury in New York City.

An Auburn statement says Person “is no longer an employee. As such, this is in the hands of the criminal justice system.”

The school says he was fired on Oct. 18.

His attorney, Theresa Trzaskoma, said Tuesday that Person didn’t commit any crimes. Person allegedly received $91,500 in bribes to steer Auburn players to Pittsburgh financial adviser Marty Blazer when they turn pro. Person told Blazer he gave $18,500 of that to the families of two Auburn players, according to a federal complaint.

U.S. women top Canada for 2nd win in 3 games

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla.

Kendall Coyne and Megan Bozek each had a goal and an assist and the United States women’s hockey team beat Canada 4-2 on Wednesday night in a physical game at the Four Nations Cup.

Cayla Barnes and Alex Carpenter scored to help the Americans won their second game as they try to win this event for a third straight time and eighth overall.

Brianna Decker had two assists, and goalie Maddie Rooney made 20 saves for her second win in two nights.

Rebecca Johnston and Meghan Agosta scored for Canada, which went 1 of 9 on the power play.

This was the third game between the two powers in women’s hockey as part of their pre-Olympic exhibition tour this fall. The Americans took the first game 5-2 in Quebec City, and Barnes was in the stands watching when Canada evened it up with a 5-1 win in Boston on Oct. 25.

N.C. State petitions NCAA again for Beverly

RALEIGH, N.C.

North Carolina State is trying again to get freshman guard Braxton Beverly cleared to play this season.

Athletics spokesman Fred Demarest says the school has submitted a request for the NCAA to reconsider its decision that Beverly is ineligible to play this season. Beverly’s attorney, Scott Tompsett, issued a statement saying he hopes “the NCAA takes this opportunity to do the right thing” by letting Beverly play immediately.

Beverly enrolled at Ohio State and took two summer courses before an unexpectedly late coaching change led him to obtain his release and join the Wolfpack by the fall semester. Taking the classes triggered the NCAA designation that Beverly was an undergraduate transfer as opposed to an incoming recruit, meaning he would have to sit out a year.

Staff and wire reports