IOWA CITY - A former University of Northern Iowa student who claimed administrators treated her poorly after she was sexually assaulted by football players in 2004 will receive $50,000 to drop her lawsuit, according to the terms of an agreement released Tuesday.
A state panel approved the settlement Monday with the Davenport woman, whose name is being withheld because the Associated Press generally doesn't identify sexual assault victims. The deal ends a case that raised questions about UNI's treatment of sexual assault victims and the legal tactics that state lawyers later used to try to discredit the woman's claims.
The woman's attorney, Pressley Henningsen, said his client was pleased that the university had recently reviewed and vowed to improve its handling of sexual assault cases, which she had sought in her lawsuit. He said she recently got a nursing degree and "wants to put this behind her and move on."
The woman was an 18-year-old freshman in 2004 when she reported that Baylen Laury and Joseph Thomas III, who were freshmen players from Texas, took turns assaulting her in a dorm room. Thomas pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse. Laury eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after jurors deadlocked on more serious charges. Both served prison sentences.
UNI wide receiver runs 40-yard dash in 4.19
Northern Iowa receiver Terrell Sinkfield reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.19 seconds at a pro day held Monday at the University of Minnesota.
The blazing time came in his second attempt at the 40 and was so fast that he was asked to run a third time, something none of the other prospects who participated in the pro day was asked to do.
Sinkfield reportedly stumbled on the third attempt but still ran a 4.44. Sinkfield reportedly ran 4.27 in his first attempt for an average of 4.3 on the three runs.
The scouting combine record time in the 40 is the 4.24 run by Chris Johnson at the 2008 event.
Dayne, Tomlinson on Hall of Fame ballot
NEW YORK - Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, the late Jerome Brown and LaDainian Tomlinson are on the final ballot for College Football Hall of Fame for the first time. The National Football Foundation on Tuesday announced the 77 former players and five former coaches who will be considered for induction.
Dayne is the career rushing leader in major college football and won the Heisman for Wisconsin in 1999. Tomlinson won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back in 2000 for TCU. Brown anchored the defensive line for the great Miami teams of the mid-1980s.
Pack won't use franchise tag on Jennings
GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers declined to use their franchise tag on Greg Jennings, meaning the star wide receiver will become an unrestricted free agent next week. The agent for Jennings, who ranks in the top 10 on the all-time Packers reception list, can begin speaking with other teams as soon as Saturday, although no deal can be signed until March 12, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report.
Vikings release WR Jenkins
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Vikings created another opening at their thinnest position on Tuesday by releasing veteran wide receiver Michael Jenkins, clearing $3.25 million of space under the salary cap.
Owner seeks to unload team via Craigslist
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A co-owner of the Cedar Rapids Titans football team is selling his stake through Craigslist. The Titans announced earlier this week that owner Mike Polaski is trying to sell his 20 percent stake in the two-year-old Indoor Football League team. Polaski writes on Craigslist that a downturn in his business as a restaurant owner is the reason and he's asking for $80,000.
baseball
MLB examining expanded replay for 2014
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Major League Baseball intends to expand the use of instant replay for the 2014 season, and will be studying which calls to review and how to do it over the course of this year.
Joe Torre, an MLB executive vice president, said Tuesday that league officials plan to visit Miami during the World Baseball Classic and various spring training sites to examine camera angles and other factors that will help them develop a plan.
basketball
McDermott MVC player of year again
OMAHA, Neb. - Creighton's Doug McDermott is the Missouri Valley Conference's player of the year for the second straight season.
McDermott leads the Valley and is second nationally with 23.4 points a game. He received 35 of 36 first-place votes in a poll of coaches, sports information directors and media.
Creighton's Ethan Wragge is the Valley's sixth man of the year, Wichita State's Cleanthony Early is the top newcomer, Missouri State's Marcus Marshall the top freshman and Bradley's Dyricus Simms-Edwards the top defensive player.
McDermott and Early are joined on the all-conference first team by Illinois State's Jackie Carmichael, Indiana State's Jake Odum and Evansville's Colt Ryan.
Ibaka fined $25,000 for hit on Griffin
NEW YORK - Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for striking Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers in the groin area during Sunday's game.
The league also upgraded the flagrant foul 1 Ibaka's was given for hitting Griffin as the two battled for position in the paint to a Flagrant Foul 2, meaning Ibaka should have been ejected from the game.
Pierce helps Celtics top 76ers
PHILADELPHIA - Avery Bradley scored a season-high 22 points, and Paul Pierce had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 109-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Kevin Garnett scored 18 points to help the Celtics improve to 12-4 since Rajon Rondo was lost with a torn knee ligament. The Celtics entered in seventh place, but were no more than two games behind the next three teams ahead in the standings.
Floyd meets with USC about old job
LOS ANGELES - Tim Floyd has talked to USC about returning to coach the Trojans.
Now the coach at UTEP, Floyd met with
athletic director Pat Haden about USC's opening, UTEP
athletic director Bob Stull said Tuesday. Floyd is also a former Iowa State and Chicago Bulls coach.
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