■ College Football
Troy beats Rice in bowl
Omar Haugabook threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Troy to a 41-17 victory over Rice on Friday in the New Orleans Bowl. It was the second bowl appearance and first victory for the Trojans (8-5), who moved up to Division I-A in 2002. Troy earned the bowl bid with its first Sun Belt Conference title. Haugabook, the Sun Belt player of the year and unanimous MVP of the game, completed 14 of 28 for 217 yards. He was intercepted once. Haugabook also picked up 92 of Troy's 148 yards. Rice (7-6) was seeking its first postseason victory since 1954.
■ Women's soccer
US to play Germany
The US women's soccer team will open its schedule next year against Germany on Jan. 26 at the Four Nations Tournament in Guangzhou, China. The US team, unbeaten in their last 32 games, also play England on Jan. 28 and China on Jan. 30. The US team, which won the Four Nations Tournament in 1998, 2003, 2004 and this year, does not intend to include forwards Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach, midfielder Aly Wagner and defender Christie Rampone on its roster. "We will not be bringing some of our top veteran players to allow them to rejoin the team with fresh legs and minds in February," coach Greg Ryan said on Friday.
■ Baseball
Griffey injures hand
Ken Griffey Jr. couldn't avoid getting injured in the offseason. The center fielder for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds broke his left hand in an accident at home, the latest in a series of setbacks since he was traded to his hometown team in 2000. Griffey will have the hand in a hard cast for three weeks, then be re-examined, the team said on Friday. The club wasn't authorized by Griffey to give any details of how he was hurt. General manager Wayne Krivsky wasn't sure whether Griffey will be ready for the start of spring training.
■ Baseball
Yankees sign Miranda
Juan Miranda, a 23-year-old Cuban-born infielder, signed a four-year contract on Friday with the New York Yankees and is set to become the baseball club's first non-pitching Cuban player in 20 years. Miranda was born and raised in Consulacion del Sur in Cuba but now lives in the Dominican Republic. From 2002 through 2004, he played for Pinar Del Rio of Cuba, batting .303 with 27 home runs. "Juan Miranda has impressed our scouts with his talent and his strength," Yankees Dominican Republic scouting supervisor Ramon Valdivia said. "His biggest asset is his bat."
■ Lacrosse
Duke rape charges dropped
Rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players in Durham, North Carolina, were dropped on Friday after the accuser told investigators she was uncertain about some details of the alleged attack. The sexual assault case's latest turn is not the final word as the players, who have maintained their innocence from the start, still face charges of kidnapping and sexual offense. Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong dismissed the rape charges a day after the accuser said she was not certain she had been vaginally penetrated by a penis as she had initially believed. Attorneys for the former players have often said the accuser's story has changed several times since the March 13 party where she was hired as a stripper.
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