Sports briefs
Lawhorne leads
W&J over Sage
Sophomore Maria Lawhorne scored a career-high 25 points as the Washington & Jefferson women’s basketball team won its fifth consecutive game, defeating Sage 75-61 at the Cruzin’ Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Lawhorne totaled those points efficiently, making 10 of 14 shots from the field and a pair of three-pointers.
Canon-McMillan graduate Danielle Parker had 18 points and 13 rebounds for W&J (7-5), which led 41-26 at halftime.
The early lead forced Sage (5-3) to unsuccessfully take shots from behind the arc, only finishing 10 of 33 from three-point range. The Gators shot 22-for-69 (31.9 percent) from the field, the lowest field goal percentage by a Presidents’ opponent this season.
Foiled Again’s finale set for Dec. 31
Foiled Again, the richest Standardbred all time with more than $7.6 million in career earnings, will race for the final time in his incomparable career on a New Year’s Eve card at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino. He faces mandatory retirement the next day when he turns 15. The Dec. 31 program begins at 5:30 p.m.
An official retirement ceremony will take place in the winners’ circle following the race, called “Foiled Again’s Last Call,” when his connections will pull his shoes for the final time. The ceremony also will feature a video of Foiled Again’s career highlights.
In addition, the action-packed program includes the finals of six Holiday Claiming Series and the “Night of Champions,” when The Meadows Horses of the Year are presented their awards. Patrons will receive New Year’s party hats and noisemakers and will be invited to participate in the holiday festivities in the casino.
The “Last Call” not only will conclude the great gelding’s career, but it also will wrap-up his spectacular “Farewell Tour,” through which his connections – The Meadows-based trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables – campaigned him across the continent to create special events for tracks and allow fans to see him compete one more time.
Rockies to sign Murphy
The Colorado Rockies have brought in Daniel Murphy to boost an offense big on pop but lackluster in batting average.
The veteran infielder has agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract with the Rockies, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Thursday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical.
The Rockies hit .256 last season, their lowest mark in team history. The team had 210 homers, the fifth-most in franchise history and the most since 2001.
In college basketball
Zion Williamson had 17 points, 13 rebounds and Duke fans roaring each time he touched the ball before he fouled out, and the second-ranked Blue Devils ended No. 12 Texas Tech’s unbeaten start with a 69-58 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
In the NHL
Carter Hart made 31 saves for his second straight win in his second NHL start, and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 Thursday night.
Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek scored for the Flyers, who won their second straight under interim coach Scott Gordon. Gordon replaced Dave Hakstol, who was fired Monday.
• Cam Atkinson scored on a penalty shot, Sergei Bobrovsky had 30 saves and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1.
Nick Foligno also scored after getting the winner Monday night as the Blue Jackets won their second straight and ended a six-game homestand on a high note. They are 3-2-1 in that stretch and hung on to second place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind Washington.