Junior co-captain Kelsey O'Keefe of Warren scored a game-high 15 points, including her 1,000th career point 43 seconds in, to lead the Bryant women's basketball team over visiting St. Francis (N.Y.), 53-50, in a Northeast Conference game. O'Keefe is the 19th player in the women's program history to reach the 1,000.

Freshman Amanda Hevy of North Brookfield scored a team-high 15 points as the Anna Maria women's basketball team fell, 75-47, to host Albertus Magnus (5-2). Classmate Samantha Ashton, a former Burncoat High standout, had 12 points for the AmCats (0-6).

Junior Mark Rintel scored twice, but the Worcester State hockey team was defeated, 6-4, by host Salem State (3-1). Classmate Andrew Evans had 44 saves for the Lancers (3-5).

FOOTBALL

Brace lands All-ACC honors

Former Burncoat High star Ron Brace, a senior defensive tackle at Boston College, was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team. Brace, a preseason All-ACC selection, has 21 total tackles, nine for losses, and three sacks for the Eagles, who will take on Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game Saturday in Tampa, Fla.

MISCELLANY

Lifelong Red Sox fans can now take their love of the team to the next level - eternity. A Massachusetts funeral home recently took delivery of the first Red Sox casket, which features the team logo on the exterior as well as the inside. The casket is manufactured by Eternal Image of Michigan, which has a licensing agreement with Major League Baseball. Bob Biggins, co-director of Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home in Rockland, told The Boston Globe families in mourning often want their loved ones buried with favorite items. In the past that's included Red Sox paraphernalia; the casket takes it to the next step. Biggins says the family that chose the $3,000 Red Sox casket bearing serial number 0001 did not hesitate in picking it for their father.

The Boston Red Sox are expected to sign Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa to a three-year, major league contract this week. The Boston Globe reported yesterday that the 22-year-old right-hander who has never played pro Baseball reached agreement with the team on a deal worth about $3 million.