The SIUC women’s golf team wrapped up spring break Saturday with an 11th-place finish at the Louisiana State University Fairwood Invitational in Baton Rouge, La.

The Salukis fired rounds of 317, 322 and 315 for a team score of 954 for the tournament. LSU captured the tournament title with a three-round total of 890, while the University of Memphis finished second with an 894 and UCLA earned third with a 913.

From last year to this year, we improved 41 shots, Saluki coach Diane Daugherty said. LSU is dominating, and they’ve been in the NCAA Tournament almost every year that they’ve had it. It’s just great for us to get to go compete against that level of competition.

Advertisement

Senior Jamie Smith led the Salukis with a three-round total of 233 for 31st place. Freshman Elizabeth Uthoff, who was named Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week Thursday, shot a 237, while senior Stacy Skillman fired a 239. Sophomore Andrea Walker (251) and junior Jami Zimmerman (253) rounded out the Salukis’ scoring.

Liz Uthoff had another great tournament, and Jamie Smith had a great tournament, Daugherty said. She has struggled in the past down there, so it was a great tournament for her.

SIUC is off until it plays host to the Saluki Invitational March 29-30.

Pat on way back? Ewing’s recovery going well

Patrick Ewing is recovering so quickly from his wrist injury that the Knicks’ team doctor said Sunday the team is considering the possibility of placing the center on the playoff roster April 20.

He’s really doing well, and our concern about his career being in jeopardy is not the issue anymore, Dr. Norman Scott said. He’s forced us to look at making a decision that we didn’t think we’d have to get into.

Ewing went down with what was thought to be a season-ending and career-threatening wrist injury Dec. 20 in a game at Milwaukee. He underwent pre-dawn surgery the following day and had his right hand in a heavy cast until four weeks ago.

Advertisement*

Scott said Ewing has regained 50 percent of the strength in his wrist and 60 percent of his range of motion. The team would like to have both categories at 100 percent before allowing Ewing to return, but it is not a strict requirement.

I wouldn’t give him clearance unless his chances of reinjuring were about the same as they were of injuring it the first time, Scott said.

Ewing’s daily rehabilitation includes several exercises designed to regain motion and strengthen in the muscles surrounding the wrist. He has shot a basketball since having his cast removed, but cannot yet catch a pass or even shake hands with his right hand.

Anything that’s done too sudden, such as a fall or someone banging it, runs the risk of rupturing the ligaments. That’s what you have to protect against, Dr. Scott said. But once a person has full motion, then that risk is gone.

Tarkanian:Wallace didn’t keep his word to me

Fresno State University president John Welty does not think CBS’ 60 Minutes treated the Bulldogs’ basketball program fairly in its report on the school’s basketball program.

The report, which aired Sunday night, reviewed drug and assault suspensions that have plagued the basketball program this year. Eight of the team’s 10 scholarship players have missed games because they were suspended, ineligible, in rehab or quit.

Coach Jerry Tarkanian, interviewed by 60 Minutes anchor Wallace, said he is proud of his policy of giving youngsters who made a mistake another chance.

I think it’s wonderful that there are people out there that help you through this time and give you an opportunity to be successful, Tarkanian said on the broadcast.

Welty issued a statement that he was disappointed CBS failed to report Fresno State has developed one of the most stringent codes of conduct in America and has successfully implemented the code.

Tarkanian said he would not watch the show and advised his players not to watch it either because he felt Wallace betrayed him.

When he left here, he said I would not be disappointed with the segment, Tarkanian said. But … from other reports I got, I’m going to be disappointed. Wallace didn’t keep his word to me, and you can quote me on that.