Top-ranked women's tennis star Serena Williams was chosen as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the fourth time. Williams collected 50 first-place votes and 352 points. Carli Lloyd, whose hat trick in the final lifted the US women's soccer team to the World Cup title, was the runner-up, with 14 first-place votes and 243 points. UFC star Ronda Rousey finished third, one spot ahead of the woman she stunningly lost to last month, Holly Holm. UConn basketball player Breanna Stewart was fifth. Williams nearly became the first tennis player in more than a quarter-century to complete the Grand Slam, winning the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, before losing in the US Open semifinals. The only woman with more AP selections is Babe Didrikson, with six — one for athletics in 1932, and five for golf from 1945-54.
Bryant leads All-Star voting
After the first returns of All-Star voting, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant leads the pack by a wide margin, ESPN.com reported. Bryant already has 719,235 votes — well ahead of Warriors star Stephen Curry (510,202), the next-highest vote-getter, and more than twice as many as LeBron James (357,937). Bryant has more votes than James and Kevin Durant combined. This all-star game, to be held in Toronto, would be Bryant's last, as he has announced his plans to retire after 20 seasons in the league.
Former Colt faces gun charge
Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton Jr. was arrested for firing a gun outside a suburban Indianapolis home. The Indianapolis Star reported Tipton is charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. The incident occurred early Christmas morning outside his girlfriend's home. He was released on a $3,000 bond following his arrest. Tipton told Greenwood, Ind., police he went to the home after receiving threatening texts from his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, indicating the woman was going to be harmed. Police say he fired one round from an AR-15 assault weapon, incorrectly believing the ex-boyfriend was in the home. Witnesses told police they saw at least one person leave in a Jeep. Police tracked down Tipton several blocks from the home. A loaded 9mm handgun and a loaded Colt AR-15 assault rifle were found in the Jeep, police said. Tipton cooperated during the investigation and has a valid Michigan license to carry a handgun, investigators said. Tipton played for the Colts the last two seasons. He was recently released by the team . . . Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was a full participant in practice Friday, after missing the first two days of practice this week because of a sprained left ankle. He was listed as probable for Sunday night's game against the Giants . . . Defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee) and linebacker James Morris (quad) were placed on injured reserve by the Giants . . . Falcons rookie running back Tevin Coleman, who slipped and hit his head in the shower at the team facility Wednesday, has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers . . . Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright (broken ribs) and safety Da'Norris Searcy (hamstring) are probable to play against Houston on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota (sprained ankle) is the only player listed as out for Tennessee's home finale. Mariota will be replaced by Zach Mettenberger, who will make his third start this season and second against the Texans . . . Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay because of a hamstring injury. Chicago (5-9) also listed linebacker Shea McClellin as doubtful because of a concussion.
. . . The Seahawks hope wide receiver Doug Baldwin (hamstring) will be ready to play Sunday against St. Louis. A decision on his status could be made on game day.
Raiders hold off Chargers
Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime and the Raiders got a defensive stop to seal what might have been the final game ever in Oakland, Calif., with a 23-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night. Derek Carr threw a touchdown pass and led the winning overtime drive for the Raiders (7-8), who could be moving to the Los Angeles area after the season. It also made defensive back Charles Woodson a winner in his final home game with the Raiders as he will retire after his 18th NFL season.
Crimson fall to No. 3 Sooners
Buddy Hield scored 34 points and Jordan Woodward had 28 — both career highs — to help No. 3 Oklahoma (11-0) beat Harvard, 83-71, in the Diamond Head Classic title game in Honolulu. Oklahoma was down at halftime, 37-35, but opened the second half with a 17-0 run. Hield was 11 of 14 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line, and Woodward was 9 of 13 from the field and 6 of 7 from the line. Zena Edosomwan scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting and had 16 rebounds for Harvard (5-7). The Crimson had won three straight. In the third-place game, Roderick Bobbitt scored 22 of his 30 points in the second half and Hawaii beat Auburn, 79-67. In the fifth-place game, Chase Fischer scored 26 points and Kyle Collinsworth added 12 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead BYU to an 84-76 win over Northern Iowa . . . The Malaysian government said it has accepted the withdrawal of Israeli windsurfers Yoav Omer and Noy Drihan from the ISAF world youth sailing championships, which begin Sunday. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told the Malay Mail Online website that Malaysia, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, ''is guided by the existing policy of the Malaysian government.'' Amir Gill, chairman of the Israel association, also told local media that Malaysia had placed ''unacceptable'' demands by forbidding athletes from carrying their country's flag or wearing any symbol on their attire and surfboards which showed their country of origin.