National Sports

• Slain lacrosse player showed signs of suffocation
  A University of Virginia lacrosse player found dead in her bedroom in May 2010 showed signs of suffocation and had a potentially lethal neck injury, the coroner who performed her autopsy testified Monday at her ex-boyfriend's murder trial.

• Yankees, Pirates progressing toward Burnett deal
  The New York Yankees and Pirates have made progress toward a trade that would send much-maligned pitcher A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh.

• ND higher ed board to sue to drop Fighting Sioux
  North Dakota's Board of Higher Education voted Monday to sue to attempt to block a public vote on a state law that requires the University of North Dakota's athletics teams to be called the Fighting Sioux.

• Penn State puts child abuse scandal costs at $3.2M
  Penn State says it has spent $3.2 million on lawyers, consultants and public relations firms in response to child sex abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach arrested in early November.

• Marlins to be focus of Showtime series
  With their profile on the rise, the Miami Marlins are getting a TV show.

• Drivers pleased with progression of new Indy cars
  IndyCar drivers are dropping their initial complaints about this season's new cars.

• Correction: Tournament of Hope golf story
  In a Feb. 12 story about a new golf event, the $8.5 million Tournament of Hope, The Associated Press erroneously reported that this was a World Golf Championship event. The tournament is sanctioned by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which separately also sanctions the four WGC events.

• Steelers GM says no decision made on Hines Ward
  The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't ready to part ways with Hines Ward just yet.

• Knicks think they'll stay hot when stars join Lin
  Amare Stoudemire watched Linsanity from Florida, a welcome break as he grieved the death of his brother.

• Nets guard Keith Bogans has ankle surgery
  New Jersey Nets guard Keith Bogans has undergone ankle surgery and is expected to be fully recovered for training camp next season.

• US tabs 21 players for women's basketball pool
  Baylor junior Brittney Griner is on her way to joining a select group.

• FCC urged to end sports blackout rule
  Most people weighing in on a sports blackout rule are urging the Federal Communications Commission to scrap it.

• Woods goes from inevitable to unpredictable
  Phil Mickelson has beaten Tiger Woods the last five times they have played together in the final round.

• Mountain West, C-USA to form new league
  Members of Conference USA and current and future members of the Mountain West are taking a bigger-is-better approach to college sports leagues.

• Lin wins NBA's East player of the week honor
  Knicks guard Jeremy Lin has been named the Eastern Conference player of the week after his sensational first week as an NBA starter.

• Canadian wrestler banned 2 years for doping
  Greco-Roman wrestler Colin Daynes has been banned two years for a doping violation at the 2011 Canadian qualification trials.

• Baylor still No. 1 in AP women's basketball poll
  After a crazy week in which 15 of the Top 25 teams lost, Baylor remains the unanimous No. 1 choice in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll.

• Banana Joe the affen wins early at Westminster
  Perched on his hind legs, peering over the top rail of his pen, Banana Joe wanted to play at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

• Ivanovic advances in Qatar when opponent quits
  Serbia's Ana Ivanovic advanced to the second round of the Qatar Open on Monday when Carla Suarez Navarro withdrew midway through their match because of a back injury.

• UConn to introduce Manuel as new athletic director
  University of Connecticut officials will be introducing Warde Manuel as the school's new athletic director.

• Linsanity propels MSG shares to record high
  With the Knicks and Rangers on winning streaks and Linsanity spreading through the sports world, shares of The Madison Square Garden Co. reached an all-time high Monday.

• Kentucky stays runaway No. 1 in AP Top 25
  Kentucky and Syracuse remain Nos. 1 and 2 in The Associated Press' Top 25, and Wichita State and Notre Dame are ranked for the first time this season.

• Tokyo, Doha submit 2020 bid files to IOC
  Tokyo and Doha submitted bids Monday to host the 2020 Olympics, delivering their files to the IOC two days before the deadline.

• Mike Comrie retires from NHL after 3rd hip surgery
  Mike Comrie, who twice scored at least 30 goals in a season, retired from the NHL on Monday after a third hip operation in five years.

• Curley, Penn St. AD on leave, wants charges tossed
  A Penn State administrator is asking a judge to throw out charges that he lied to the grand jury investigating child sex abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky and that he failed to report suspected abuse.