COLLEGE BASKETBALL

FOWLES SENDS LSU TO FIFTH STRAIGHT FINAL FOUR

LSU coach Van Chancellor can thank Sylvia Fowles for his first trip to a Final Four. Fowles had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocked shots, lifting LSU to a 56–50 victory over top-seeded North Carolina last night. The victory sent the second-seeded Lady Tigers (31–5) to their fifth Final Four in as many seasons.

“We knew it was our last year and we wanted to go all out,” said Fowles, named the most outstanding player of the New Orleans regional.

HILLTOPPER’ HORN TO BECOME SOUTH CAROLINA COACH

Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn is leaving for South Carolina after the Hilltoppers best finish in the NCAA tournament in 15 years. Horn told the school’s president yesterday he had accepted an offer from the Gamecocks to replace Dave Odom, who retired at the end of the season, Western Kentucky University spokesman Bob Edwards said. South Carolina athletic officials did not confirm Horn’s hiring, but university trustees plan to meet this morning to approve a new athletic contract. A news conference to announce a new coach for the Gamecocks has been scheduled for later in the afternoon.

LOPEZ TWINS TO TURN PRO

The Lopez twins are going pro together. Stanford sophomore Robin Lopez is joining his 7-foot brother Brook in entering the NBA draft. The brothers made their announcement to the Associated Press yesterday through their mother, Deborah Ledford. It was expected that Brook would declare himself eligible for the NBA, but Robin was not so certain.