Leslie, Swoopes Lead U.S. Rout

Lisa Leslie had 19 points and six rebounds, and Sheryl Swoopes scored 17 points to lead the defending champion United States past Spain, 94-55, Monday in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Basketball Championship at Nanjing, China.

Shannon Johnson scored 20 points for the U.S., which advanced to play Australia in the semifinals today. Australia beat France, 78-52, in the quarterfinals.

In other quarterfinal games, South Korea defeated Brazil, 71-70, and Russia defeated China, 86-70.

Swoopes helped limit Spain’s top scorer, Amaya Valdemoro, to seven points.

U.S. Coach Van Chancellor said the American women were motivated by the sixth-place finish of the U.S. men’s team at the World Championships earlier this month.

“I don’t think there’s ever been anything that’s been any better attention-getter for the U.S. women than the fact our men got beat,” Chancellor said. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve been so focused.”

*

Texas forward Chris Wright, a redshirt freshman, will sit out the 2002-03 season after tearing a ligament in his left knee.... The Orlando Magic signed free-agent guards Omar Cook and Corey Benjamin, and forward-center Obinna Ekezie, a former Clipper.... The Toronto Raptors hired Canadian national team coach Jay Triano and Dick Helm as assistants to replace Stan Albeck and Jim Brewer.

*

Jurisprudence

A federal appeals court in Philadelphia refused to reinstate a lawsuit filed by former major league pitcher John Montefusco against ESPN.

The appeals court agreed with a lower court’s ruling that Montefusco’s being compared to O.J. Simpson was not defamation.

Hana Yasmeen Ali, a daughter of Muhammad Ali, agreed to enter a theft-diversion program to avoid facing shoplifting charges at Perrysburg, Ohio.

*

Miscellany

Detroit Red Wing forward Boyd Devereaux is expected to be out about a month after a breaking his left thumb during Friday’s exhibition game.

Daniela Hantuchova rallied to defeat Katarina Srebotnik, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round of the Sparkassen Cup at Leipzig, Germany.... Bohdan Ulihrach defeated fourth-seeded Fernando Vicente, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the Sicilian International at Palermo.

Chad Knaus, crew chief for driver Jimmie Johnson, was fined $5,000 by NASCAR for cursing during a TV interview.

Twenty-five boats from seven countries, including one skippered by world champion Alexandre Paradeda of Brazil, will vie for the 2002 Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship today through Saturday at Long Beach.

*

Passings

Mike Reasor, who played on the PGA Tour for 10 years and caddied for Arnold Palmer when he lost a seven-stroke lead in the 1966 U.S. Open, died Thursday at age 60.

Reasor apparently had a heart attack while competing in the Pacific Northwest Section PGA Senior Championship at Bend, Ore., according to friend Gene Becker.