Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — BASKETBALL Rose says he took SAT

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and the Rookie of the Year last season, said Friday that he took the SAT exam to get into Memphis and dismissed the ideasomeone did so in his place. "I took it, I took it," Rose said. Rose found himself at the center of a scandal over the summer when the NCAA ruled that Memphis must vacate its 38 victories and national championship game appearance during the 2007-2008 season for using an ineligible player. The school is appealing the ruling. The NCAA said an unknown person took the SAT for a player - with his knowledge - and that the player used it to get admitted. The governing body said the athlete played for Memphis only during the 2007-2008 season and the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Rose is the only person who fits that description, but he insisted no one took the test for him. "I wasn't worried about anybody saying I didn't take it," he said. "If that's the case, somebody would have then said it." Rose couldn't recall his score, saying "I don't even remember my last report card."

Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings has been named the WNBA's Defensive Player of the Year for the third time. Catchings received 34 votes. Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker and Atlanta Dream center Erika de Souza each received two votes and two others got one vote each.Catchings, who also won the award in 2005 and 2006, joins Sheryl Swoopes as the only three-time winners. Catchings' 99 steals this season were one shy of the WNBA's single-season record of 100 set by the New York Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon in 1998. Catchings led the league in steals per game (2.91) for the fifth time.

MOTOR SPORTS Report: Patrick to stay

Danica Patrick has agreed to a three-year contract to remain at Andretti Green Racing and stay in the IndyCar Series, according to a report in the Indianapolis Star.

Patrick, the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in last year's Indy Japan, is finishing her fifth season in the IndyCar series and is fifth in points. She's been rumored to be considering a move to NASCAR and still could compete in a limited number of races.

Jimmie Johnson turned a lap of 157.356 mph to win the pole position for Sunday's race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. He led a career-high 298 laps in May to win at Dover.

FOOTBALL Player fined for mask

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown was fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing a Halloween mask during pregame introductions Sunday. Brown ran onto the field wearing a mask similar to what the character Jason wore in the Friday the 13th movies. He had two interceptions in the season opener at Carolina and might have been trying to make a statement that he's far from finished. Brown was unhappy with his contract situation during the off-season, but the Eagles refused to restructure his deal.

Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber (left thigh injury) was limited in practice for the second consecutive day and his status for Monday night against the Carolina Panthers remains uncertain.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (broken rib) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Kevin Kolb will make his second consecutive start if McNabb can't go. Michael Vick will play his first regular-season game in 33 months. Vick is expected to run the wildcat offense and might take a few snaps at quarterback and line up as a receiver or running back.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (broken rib) missed a third consecutive practice and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. Backup Seneca Wallace is expected to start.

Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis (injured hamstring) is likely to miss Sunday's game in Baltimore.

Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin (illness) missed his second consecutive practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against San Francisco.

Washington Redskins runningback Clinton Portis (sore ankles) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Detroit.

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson (sprained right ankle) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphin.

New Orleans running back Mike Bell (sprained medial colateral ligament in his right knee) hasn't practice all week and won't play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss (back injury) and Wes Welker (right knee injury) missed practice and were listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

GOLF Britain-Ireland leads

Britain and Ireland won 3 and 2 to increase its lead over Continental Europe to 6-4 after the second round of fourball matches at the Vivendi Trophy, a matchplay event on the PGA European Tour, in Saint-Nom-La-Breteche, France. Simon Dyson and Oliver Wilson, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty, and Anthony Wall and Chris Wood won for Britain and Ireland. Francesco Molinari and Anders Hansen, and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Robert Karlsson, won for Continental Europe.

Sophie Gustafson shot a 3-under-par 69 for a 10-under 134 and a one-stroke lead over topranked Lorena Ochoa (67), Maria Hjorth (66) and Shanshan Feng (67) after the second round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge in Danville, Calif. Gustafson, who won the last of her four career LPGA Tour victories in 2003, missed three eagle putts. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) shot a 4-under 68 with six birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under 143. Audra Burks (Little Rock) shot a 2-over 74 with two birdies and four bogeys for a 2-over 146, the cutoff score. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 5-over 77 with two birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey for a 4-over 148.

Russ Cochran and Denis Watson each shot a 6-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead over Joey Sindelar, Larry Mize, R.W. Eaks, Dan Forsman, Jim Thorpe and Tom Pernice Jr. on a windy and drizzling day at the Champions Tour's SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.

Fran Quinn shot a 5-under-par67 for a 13-under 131 and a onestroke lead over Arjun Atwal (64) after the second round of the Nationwide Tour's WNB Golf Classic in Midland, Texas. Brenden Pappas (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot an 8-under 64 with eight birdies for an 8-under 136. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a 5-under 67 with an eagle, four birdies and a bogey for a 7-under 137. Craig Lile (Razorbacks) shot a 1-under 71 with four birdies and three bogeys for a 5-under 139. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) shot a 4-under 68 with six birdies and two bogeys for a 4-under 140, the cutoff score. Drew Laning (Little Rock) shot a 1-over 73 with two birdies and three bogeys for a 3-over 147.

BASEBALL U.S. plays Cuba for title

The United States will play Cuba on Sunday in Nettuno, Italy, for the title at the baseball World Cup. The United States, which hasn't lost since falling to Venezuela in the opening game, extended its unbeaten run to 13 games with an 8-2 victory against the Netherlands. Leadoff batter Buck Coats went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and Kasey Kiker allowed one hit in six innings.

TRACK & FIELD Gay edges Powell

Tyson Gay (Arkansas Razorbacks) won the 100 meters in 9.94 seconds, edging Jamaican Asafa Powell (10.00) at the Daegu (South Korea) Pre-Championships Meet.

TENNIS Top seed advances

Top-seeded Gael Monfils reached the semifinals at the Open de Moselle in Metz, France, when Janko Tipsarevic injured his right ankle and retired. Monfils was leading 6-1, 4-2.

Top-seeded Yaroslava Shvedova defeated Monica Niculescu 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of the Tashkent (Uzbekistan) Open.

Defending champion Maria Kirilenko defeated Vera Dushevina 7-5, 7-6 (5) to advance to the semifinals of the Korea Open in Seoul.

Third-seeded Juan Monaco defeated Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to advance to the semifinals of the BCR Open Romania in Bucharest.