Sun's Day Turns Gloomy With Loss to Sparks

Marta Fernandez and Mwadi Mabika each scored 19 points as the Los Angeles Sparks routed Connecticut, 88-68, in a WNBA game yesterday.

The loss spoiled the home opener for the Sun.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin, traded from Connecticut in the offseason, added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Sparks (2-1). Los Angeles led 52-32 at intermission, shooting 56 percent .

Connecticut (1-2) went on a 12-2 run after the break and cut the deficit to 64-61, but Fernandez's three-pointer with 4 minutes 46 seconds left restored a double-digit lead..

· HORSE RACING: Jockey Andrew Lakeman remained in critical condition with spinal injuries after a spill at Belmont Park in New York on Friday.

Lakeman was thrown to the turf during the fourth race when his horse, Our Montana Dream, clipped heels with Irish Señorita.

The 32-year-old jockey was placed on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to North Shore Hospital, which would not elaborate on Lakeman's injury.

Charles Hayward, New York Racing Association president and chief executive, visited the hospital and provided details of the injuries.

"We got the opportunity to talk to one of the trauma physicians in attendance when Andrew was admitted," Hayward said.

"He was extremely unstable, had lost a lot of blood and had precipitously low blood pressure. He did not suffer any head trauma. There's no evidence of any brain damage. He did have severe spine trauma, the implications of which is why they're not making any prognosis or projections."

· AUTO RACING: After being upstaged by Ferrari and McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton so far this season, two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso is back on track.

Alonso was fastest in qualifying and will start the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton, who leads the standings.

The Spaniard completed the 2.076-mile, twisting street circuit in 1:15.726.

· COURTS: An 81-year-old Texas woman has pleaded guilty to trying to extort $2 million from Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr.

Ruby Y. Young of Kerrville, Tex., pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court. She received a probated sentence and agreed not to have any contact with Starr or his family.

Young was accused of mailing letters to the 73-year-old Starr last year with the intent to extort money under "a threat to injure the reputation" of the Green Bay Packers' two-time Super Bowl MVP. The letters threatened to reveal an alleged relationship they had nearly 50 years ago.

· TENNIS: Juan Monaco defeated Gael Monfils of France, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, to win his second career title at the Hypo Group International in Poertschach, Austria.