BRIEFLY.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Leslie's 19 points, 16 rebounds lift Sparks to victory

Lisa Leslie had 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Sparks past the Chicago Sky 64-55 Tuesday night.

Leslie also had four blocks and four assists. Murriel Page had 10 points and Mwadi Mabika and Tamara Moore added eight each for the Sparks (3-1), who won their third consecutive game.

Stacey Lovelace had eight points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots for the Sky (1-3). Jia Perkins scored 12 points and Amanda Lassiter added 11.

--UCLA center Lorenzo Mata will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the next few weeks, and is expected to be held out of basketball-related activities for a month, sources said.

Mata, who will be a junior, will compete for the starting spot in the fall. He has complained of soreness in the knee lately, and will undergo the procedure after UCLA finishes classes next month.

It is the same knee Mata injured against Washington State during the season, but the injuries are not related.

He averaged 3.6 points and 3.9 rebounds while playing 14minutes a game.

--Brian Dohn

MOTOR SPORTS: NASCAR defending series champion Tony Stewart is expected to start this weekend in Dover, Del., despite a broken shoulder blade that knocked him out of Sunday's event at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Ricky Rudd, who has yet to race this season, will practice and qualify the car and be on standby to relieve Stewart if he needs to get out of the car.

Under NASCAR's scoring system, a driver must start a race to receive any points. He can be replaced in the car anytime after the first lap.

FOOTBALL: The Minnesota Vikings hired Rick Spielman as vice president for player personnel. Spielman left the Miami Dolphins in June after five seasons with the club. He replaces Fran Foley, who was fired after three months on the job.

HORSE RACING: Jockey Bill Boland, trainer Carl Hanford and turf champion Cougar II were elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

PASSINGS: Steve Mizerak, winner of multiple pool championships who became one of the game's more recognizable figures by appearing in training videos, beer commercials and a movie, died Monday in Palm Beach County from complications stemming from gall bladder surgery, his wife, Karen Mizerak said Tuesday.He was 61.