BRIEFLY LAKERS DRAFT PICK HEADS TO BELGIUM.

Byline: - Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Marcus Douthit, the Lakers' second-round draft pick in June, has joined Belgium club team RBC Verviers-Pepinster and will play overseas this season, his agent said Wednesday.

The Lakers are expected to tender the 6-foot-11 forward/center out of Providence a qualifying offer by the Sept. 5 deadline to retain the 24-year-old's rights.

With 15 players already on the roster and the Lakers still awaiting a decision from Karl Malone, Douthit likely wouldn't have made the team out of training camp. Douthit could be needed in the 2005-06 season, however.

- Ross Siler

-- The Toronto Raptors signed free-agent center Loren Woods, who averaged 3.2 points and 3.5 rebounds for Miami last year, to a two-year, $1.7 million contract.

COLLEGES: University of Colorado wide receiver Jeremy Bloom decided to keep fighting the NCAA for the right to accept commercial ski endorsements while playing college football.

GOLF: Northridge resident Tim Hogarth and former Campbell Hall of Studio City golfer Anthony Kim advanced to the second round of match play in the U.S. Amateur with victories at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

TENNIS: Alexandra Stevenson and Ashley Harkleroad were among eight women given U.S. Open wild cards. Martina Navratilova, who played singles at the French Open and Wimbledon, did not ask for a wild card, the U.S. Tennis Association said.

HOCKEY: The Colorado Avalanche prepared for the potential loss of several key front-line players by signing former San Jose Sharks captain Vincent Damphousse to a one-year, $2 million contract.