New Mexico suspends apologetic, hair-pulling women's soccer player

Junior defender Elizabeth Lambert was suspended Friday for her infractions the day before during a 1-0 loss to Brigham Young in a Mountain West Conference semifinal. Lambert threw elbows, collided with several players, then yanked the ponytail of BYU player Kassidy Shumway, who went crashing to the ground.

"My actions were uncalled for," Lambert said in a statement released by New Mexico. "I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation."

Video highlights can be found here.

"Liz is a quality student-athlete, but in this instance, her actions clearly crossed the line of fair play and good sportsmanship," New Mexico coach Kit Vela said.

Lambert was the only player to be penalized in the game, getting a yellow card in the 77th minute for colliding with a BYU player who was driving toward the net. The highlights showed the game was physical both ways, including an elbow to Lambert's ribs by a BYU player during a dead ball. Lambert responded with an elbow to the back, one of many dirty plays she made during the game.

"This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player I am," Lambert said in her apology.

Quick hit

• Michigan State women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant is pregnant, according to the State News. Her second child with husband Gary Rakan is due in late May or early June -- well after March Madness.

Put your dough on the Tigers now

The Yankees were parading through the streets of New York on Friday, so it makes sense to look way, way ahead to who might be celebrating a world championship next fall, right?

BetUS.com has posted odds for the 2010 World Series and, as you might imagine, the Bronx Bombers are the favorites at 3-1. The Tigers are at 22-1, along with the Marlins, Braves and Twins.

Trailing the Yankees are the Red Sox (6-1) and Phillies (8-1). Bringing up the rear are the Pirates, Nationals and Orioles at 150-1.

Ah, baseball season can't be far away.

Compiled from staff reports and news services by James Jahnke, who can be reached at 313-223-4452 or jjahnke@freepress.com.