Sports briefs

FOOTBALL

LeGrand has shoulder movement, feeling

Injured Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand has movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body. Rutgers announced the improvement in LeGrand's condition, citing an interview the player had recently with ESPN. The 20-year-old was hurt on Oct. 16, making a tackle on a kickoff return against Army in a game at New Meadowlands Stadium.

LeGrand told ESPN that he had "the fear of death" while lying on the field after his injury, believing that he "could pass out and die here." LeGrand tried to give the crowd a thumbs-up signal when he was taken off the field. But he couldn't, because it felt like "1,000 pounds was on this thumb," he said in the interview with ESPN's Tom Rinaldi.

HOCKEY

Russia juniors denied flight after win

Russia's gold-medal celebration went into overtime. And that prevented them from boarding their flight yesterday morning, a day after they won the World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo by upsetting Canada, 5-3. About 30 members of the Russian contingent were asked to get off a Delta Air Lines flight. After players and managers spent the day at a hotel across the street - where a front desk clerk said they were "sleeping it off" - a team spokesman said the group would fly out today. Mikhail Zislis, the team's media officer, disputed Delta's claim the group was unruly and accused the crew of overreacting, even after being assured by coach Valeri Bragin that he'd keep his players under control.

BASKETBALL

Taurasi dumped by Turkish team

American basketball star Diana Taurasi had her contract terminated by Turkish club Fenerbahce after her "B" sample tested positive for doping. Taurasi faces a ban of up to two years, putting in jeopardy her chances of playing for the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympics. - APCOLLEGES

Pride women win

Shante Evans had 16 points for Hofstra (9-4, 1-1) in a 66-55 CAA win over Towson (6-7, 0-2) . . . Sam Landers had 16 points for Stony Brook (3-11, 0-2 America East) in a 63-43 loss to host Binghamton (8-6, 1-0).

SBU's Markovic heads to Jersey

Stony Brook University men's soccer coach Cesar Markovic has resigned to become head coach at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Markovic spent seven seasons at Stony Brook and guided the Seawolves to the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2009. His overall record was 58-59-22, 24-20-10 in the America East Conference.