Pac-10 Will Not Penalize Leslie

The Pacific 10 Conference said Monday it would not penalize USC’s Lisa Leslie for an altercation during a game at Oregon State on Jan. 6.

Leslie struck Oregon State’s Kristina Lelas with a backhand punch that Oregon State Coach Aki Hill said knocked out a tooth.

Hill called for a two-week suspension of Leslie, but the conference said that no action would be taken.

“It’s obvious (Leslie) struck (Lelas) . . . but whether it was flagrant or deliberate . . . that can’t be determined by what’s on the tape,” Pac-10 spokesman Jim Muldoon said.

Another reason for taking no action, he said, was that game official Mary Whatford was in position directly in front of the incident and made no call.

The videotape also shows Lelas holding Leslie’s arm shortly before the punch.