BRIEFLY : UTEP'S COACH HAS PACEMAKER INSTALLED.

Byline: - Daily News Wire Services

Texas-El Paso basketball coach Don Haskins, a recent Hall of Famer, was in stable condition Tuesday night after a pacemaker was implanted next to his heart, his doctor said.

``His condition is stable and everything went well,'' said Dr. Felice K. Bruno at Providence Memorial Hospital.

Haskins, 69, was expected to remain hospitalized for several days, Bruno said.

During nearly four decades at UTEP, Haskins has amassed a 719-353 record, leading the Miners to an NCAA championship in 1966 and to Western Athletic Conference titles in 1970, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1992.

Washington, which held onto basketball coach Bob Bender last year after a determined pursuit by the University of Texas, once again is faced with a school seeking his services. Vanderbilt officials asked and have been granted permission to talk to Bender.

The NCAA men's basketball tournament might not be keeping up with last year's pace, but the women are doing just fine. CBS' men's ratings are down 4 percent through the first two rounds, but ESPN's coverage of the women's tournament is up on both of its channels.

ESPN2 posted a .44 for the eight games broadcast during the initial two rounds, a 10 percent increase from a .40 last year.

The two games on ESPN have shown a 6 percent increase, from a .89 last season to a .92.

FOOTBALL: The Baltimore Ravens finally got the quarterback they coveted, obtaining Scott Mitchell from the Detroit Lions for two draft picks.

Tim Rooney, the New York Giants' director of pro personnel since 1985, is retiring June 1, the NFL team announced.

Before coming to the Giants, Rooney held similar jobs with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1972-79) and Detroit Lions (1979-84). He was a part of five Super Bowl champions, the Steelers in 1974, '75 and '78, and the Giants in '86 and '90.

EDIFACES: With two of its tenants, the Devils of the NHL and the Nets of the NBA, clamoring for accommodations in different cities, the operators of the Meadowlands sports complex in East Rutherford, N.J., proposed a new, privately financed $212 million arena for basketball and hockey.

SOCCER: In Lisbon, Tiffeny Milbrett scored twice, helping the U.S. women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Finland in the Algarve Cup.