Sports briefs 4/17/04

Baseball

A woman was charged with assault and property damage after throwing a rock through the bedroom window at the home of St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ray Lankford, then punching him in the face. Creve Coeur Police Lt. George Hodak said Lisa Rose, 32, drove her car on Lankford's lawn, got stuck in the mud and threw a rock through his window. Lankford called police. A responding officer said he saw Rose punch Lankford.

Basketball

The Toronto Raptors fired first-year coach Kevin O'Neill on Friday, a day after he questioned the team's commitment to winning. The Raptors finished 33-49 this season and missed the playoffs for a second straight year.

College

Emeka Okafor is headed to the NBA, leaving Connecticut with everything he wanted when he arrived three years ago: a degree and an NCAA championship. The All-America center announced he'll skip his final year of college eligibility and enter June's NBA draft.

Golf

Ben Curtis shot a season-best 5-under-par 66 Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Heath Slocum after two rounds of the MCI Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. Curtis is atop the leaderboard for just the second time since winning the British Open last July.

Fuzzy Zoeller shot a 5-under 65 in the opening round of the Blue Angels Classic on Friday for a one-stroke lead over Gil Morgan and defending champion Bob Gilder. Doug Tewell, Walter Hall, Bobby Lincoln and Jim Ahern were another stoke back at The Moors Golf Club.

Cristie Kerr rolled in five birdie putts and played a bogey-free round on her way to a 5-under-par 67 and a four-shot lead in the Takefuji Classic. Kerr moved to 8-under 136 through two rounds.

Motorsports

Jeff Gordon won his third consecutive pole at Martinsville Speedway. The four-time series champion got his Chevrolet around at 93.502 mph to take the pole for the Advance Auto Parts 500. Jamie McMurray took the outside of the front row, turning a lap at 93.239 in a Dodge.

-- From wire reports