Louisville, Ky. — A Kentucky woman was convicted Thursday of demanding millions of dollars from Rick Pitino to keep secret their one-night stand in a restaurant, then claiming the Louisville basketball coach raped her after he reported the extortion.

Karen Cunagin Sypher, 50, of Louisville, was found guilty of three counts of extortion, two counts of lying to the FBI and one count of retaliating against a witness. She stared at the ceiling as the verdict was read, while one of her sons wept openly.

The case involved a 2003 sexual encounter between Pitino and Sypher, a former model at car shows, at a table inside an Italian restaurant closed for the night. Pitino testified she came on to him and the sex was consensual. After she was charged, Sypher told police it was rape but Pitino was never charged.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines, the penalty will likely be lighter. Sypher will remain free until her sentencing Oct. 27.

Cycling

Report: Lance approved of doping

Austin, Texas — Lance Armstrong’s attorney has lashed out at a report that a former teammate of the seven-time Tour de France champion told investigators Armstrong knew of widespread performance-enhancing drug use on the U.S. Postal Service team.

Attorney Bryan D. Daly said there are hundreds of former Armstrong teammates who would deny he broke the rules to win.

The New York Times reported in Thursday editions that a cyclist, who was identified only as a former Armstrong teammate, backed up claims by Floyd Landis that the Postal Service team engaged in systematic doping with Armstrong’s knowledge and approval.

College basketball

K.C.’s CBE Classic semifinals set

Kansas City, Mo. — National champion Duke will play Marquette and Kansas State will face Gonzaga in the semifinals of the CBE Classic.

The schools will serve as hosts of the four regionals in the 12-team tournament. The semifinals will be Nov. 22 at Sprint Center with the championship game on Nov. 23.

College football

Indy to host Big Ten title game

Anderson, Ind. — The Big Ten Conference has chosen Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis as the site for its first football championship game in 2011.

The Big Ten announced Thursday that the conference and the Indiana Sports Corp. will spend the next 30 days working out details of the one-year deal. After that, the Big Ten will conduct thorough research to determine future locations.

Texas, Notre Dame to play in 2015

Austin, Texas — Texas and Notre Dame have agreed to a four-game series starting in 2015 that brings together two of the most successful and storied programs in college football.

The Longhorns are scheduled to play in South Bend on Sept. 5, 2015. The Fighting Irish are slated to play in Austin on Sept. 3, 2016, and again on Aug. 31, 2019. The Longhorns return to South Bend on Sept. 12, 2020.

West Va. accused of 6 violations

Charleston, W.Va. — West Virginia student managers, graduate assistants and other non-coaching staff worked with football players on their skills and techniques in violation of NCAA limits during the Rich Rodriguez era and under current coach Bill Stewart, according to NCAA allegations released Thursday.

The NCAA said this week that there were five major and one secondary rules violations committed by the Mountaineer football program from 2005 to 2009.

NFL

Dumervil may miss five months

Englewood, Colo. — Denver Broncos pass rusher Elvis Dumervil’s season might be sacked by a torn chest muscle.

A person familiar with the injury to Dumervil told The Associated Press on Thursday that the reigning NFL sacks king could be sidelined for up to five months, making it difficult for Dumervil, a linebacker, to return this season. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Texans lock up Johnson long-term

Houston — Andre Johnson got the deal he wanted and says he’s committed to playing for the Houston Texans for his entire career.

The All-Pro receiver signed a two-year extension on Thursday that will keep him in Houston through the 2016 season.

Neither the Texans nor Johnson’s agent, Kennard McGuire, would disclose terms. The Houston Chronicle and KRIV-TV reported that Johnson’s extension had a maximum value of $38.5 million, including $13 million guaranteed.

Big Ben’s suspension not cut yet

Latrobe, Pa. — Ben Roethlisberger got a thumb’s up from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and praise for the way he’s reshaping his life. What’s missing for now is a reduction of his six-game suspension.

Goodell met with Roethlisberger while visiting the Steelers’ training camp on Thursday but, while saying the quarterback is going beyond what the league is mandating, didn’t cut his suspension for bad behavior to four games.

Packers safety to have surgery

Green Bay, Wis. — Green Bay Packers safety Atari Bigby will have surgery on his troublesome left ankle on Friday and hopes to heal within a month.

Haynesworth has MRI

Ashburn, Va. — The Washington Redskins ordered an MRI on Albert Haynesworth’s sore knee on Thursday after the two-time All-Pro defensive lineman failed to take the team’s conditioning test for the third straight day.

Golf

Woods 10 back at Firestone

Akron, Ohio — Not even one of his favorite golf courses is much use to Tiger Woods these days.

Facing the two easiest holes to start his round, he hit tee shots into the trees and made bogeys. On the course where he has won seven times in his last nine appearances, he posted a 4-over 74 for his highest score ever at Firestone. That put him 10 shots behind Bubba Watson, the largest first-round deficit Woods has faced since he returned at the Masters.

Sabbatini tied for lead

Verona, N.Y. — Rory Sabbatini hit all 18 greens in regulation for the second time in two months Thursday and shot a 7-under 65 that had him tied for the lead with Omar Uresti at the rain-delayed Turning Stone Resort Championship.

Baseball

Rangers receive approval

Fort Worth, Texas — The Texas Rangers got approval Thursday to exit federal bankruptcy protection, an anticlimactic end to one of the most contentious sales of a professional sports team.

Youkilis done for season

Boston — Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis is scheduled to have season-ending surgery for a torn muscle in his right thumb today in Cleveland.

He left Monday night’s 6-5 loss to the Indians with the injury.