COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UCONN REBOUNDS WITH WIN OVER RICE

Rashad Anderson scored 27 points and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line over the final two minutes to lead 11th-ranked Connecticut to an 81-72 victory over Rice. Josh Boone added a career-high 20 points and dominated inside with 14 rebounds for UConn (5-1), which was coming off its first loss – a 61-59 upset at Massachusetts 10 days ago.

The Huskies out rebounded the Owls 61-34 and had 31 offensive rebounds that led to 24 second-chance points. Michael Harris led Rice (5-2) with 22 points and nine rebounds.

MEMPHIS REINSTATES BANKS

Memphis reinstated sophomore forward Sean Banks to the team yesterday after he served a one-game suspension. Banks, the team’s second leading scorer and the Conference USA freshman of the year last season, was suspended by coach John Calipari on December 14 for a violation of team rules. He was averaging 16 points and 6.1 rebounds in nine games.

SOCCER

FIFA: WOMAN NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEN’S LEAGUE

World soccer’s governing body rejected the signing of a female player by a professional men’s team in Mexico.

“There must be a clear separation between men’s and women’s football,” FIFA said from its Swiss headquarters yesterday.

Maribel Dominguez signed a two-year deal Wednesday with the second-division club Celaya, which deferred to FIFA on whether a woman could play in the league. FIFA’s executive committee denied the move during a weekend meeting. Dominguez scored 45 goals in 46 games for the Mexican women’s national team and played one season in the Women’s United Soccer Association in the United States.

– Associated Press