Lafayette

Towson coach Pat Kennedy credits his team for doing a solid job moving the ball on offense to create open shots, but he acknowledges that the Tigers have struggled recently to convert those chances. While the offense played better last night against visiting Lafayette, Towson could not match the Leopards' firepower down the stretch in a 79-69 overtime loss. The defeat also wasted a solid performance by Towson's defense, which forced 17 turnovers, and the Tigers are 4-6 going into the holiday break.

EASTON, Pa. -- Wes Cooper scored 16 points and nine rebounds, leading visiting Navy to an 84-70 victory over Lafayette in a Patriot League game yesterday.The victory for Navy (13-8, 5-4) ended a three-game losing streak at Lafayette (2-19, 0-9), which has lost 16 consecutive games.In their last meeting on Jan. 11, the Midshipmen defeated the Leopards by 16 points. Yesterday, Navy was in command, leading 43-26 at halftime.The Midshipmen shot 16 for 33 from the field in the first half while Lafayette was only 9-of-24.

Eight members of a drug ring that sold up to $20,000 worth of heroin a week from an East Baltimore housing project pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy charges.The four men and four women who pleaded guilty in Baltimore Circuit Court to conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine were among more than 80 charged in the 18-month investigation of alleged kingpin Reginald L. "Reds" Green, prosecutors said.That investigation led to charges in a $6.5 million-a-week heroin ring blamed for the interstate distribution of the potent opiate substitute fentanyl, which has been linked to 27 Maryland deaths.

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Lafayette women's basketball coach Pat Fisher blamed the inexperience of freshman point guard Melly Sellers for the Lady Leopards' elimination from the Patriot League tournament yesterdayBut first-year Navy coach Joe Sanchez credited his plebe backcourt starters, Joanne Groth and Jenny Thompson for turning a shaky 29-24 halftime lead into a 68-44 rout in the opening round.The Midshipmen (16-11, 10-4) will play Fordham in tomorrow afternoon's semifinals. The Rams advanced by beating Army, 63-42.

Becky Dowling scored 20 points and Adi Schneck added 15, leading Navy to a 65-35 victory over Lafayette in a Patriot League game last night in Annapolis.Navy (5-8, 1-1) led 39-13 at halftime as Dowling and Schneck each scored 12. Navy shot 14-for-27 from the field and Lafayette was 6-for-20. Dowling led all players with seven rebounds.Kate Wells added 14 points for Navy. Dana Gould led Lafayette with 11 points and five rebounds.* Notre Dame 85, Gallaudet 53: Jennifer Chaney scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, leading visiting College of Notre Dame (4-5)

EASTON, Pa. - The Towson football team committed mental errors and costly turnovers yesterday, resulting in a 23-7 loss to Lafayette before 5,386 at Fisher Field. The day began with frustration for the Tigers (1-1, 0-1 Patriot League) when one of their two buses broke down on the way to the game. It got worse for Towson when its offense stalled against the Leopards. The Tigers, who gained nearly 500 yards last week in their season-opening win over Morgan State, never got rolling yesterday.

Almost 42 years ago, Baltimore celebrated when the first shovelful of dirt came out of the ground for the Lafayette Courts housing project, the beginning of construction for the "low-income apartments in the sky."Now, city officials have another day of festivities planned in honor of the Aisquith Street high-rises. On Saturday, after a party and parade, the city will blow them up."I'm going to be there on Saturday. It's part of my history that's being blown up," said Shirley Wise, a 58-year-old beautician who lived at Lafayette Courts for 25 years, beginning the year the project opened in 1955.

The proof was in the first 10 1/2 minutes at Alumni Hall last night.Navy held Lafayette to one field goal in that span, rolled to a 17-2 lead and then cruised to a 78-62 Patriot League victory before 1,712 fans.Defense and control of the backboards were the key elements for the Midshipmen, who won for the fourth time in the past five games and improved their home record to 7-1.The young and struggling Leopards were horrific early, shooting 1-for-9 from the floor and committing 10 turnovers while Navy (8-5, 1-1)

Navy (20-15, 12-4) moved into first place in the Patriot League by sweeping Lafayette, 9-1 and 9-2, in baseball yesterday at Max Bishop Stadium.Sophomore right-hander Tom McLemore (5-1) pitched a three-hitter in the first game and retired the final 17 batters.In Game 2, Brian Bernth drove in three runs and sophomore right-hander Kevin Carlson (4-4) pitched Navy's sixth straight complete game.* Coastal Carolina rallied from a 5-2 deficit with a four-run fifth inning for an 8-6 victory against Towson State (16-18-1, 7-8)