Former Western Kentucky Lady Topper Crystal Kelly’s WNBA dream has been put on hold after the Louisville native was cut by the Houston Comets late Thursday.

A third-round pick by the Comets, Kelly appeared in three preseason games, starting the preseason opener. She averaged 3 points and 2.7 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the free throw line.

Kelly was one of the Comets’ final cuts, getting beat out for a roster spot by non-drafted rookies Mercedes Walker from Pittsburgh and Sequoia Holmes from UNLV.

WKU’s Long improves by a stroke at NCAA regional

Western Kentucky men’s golfer Brent Long improved his second-round score by one stroke Friday compared to first-round action at the NCAA Central Regional at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.

The Carthage, Tenn., native began the day at 8 over par and tied for 106th. After his second-round performance, Long stands at 15 over par for the event and is tied for 115th.

Long bogeyed the first and second holes of the round and then fired three pars before bogeying Nos. 6 and 7. He birdied No. 9 and went into the turn at 3 over.

The senior gained a stroke back on No. 12, bringing him to 2-over-par for the round. Long then recorded one par, three bogeys and one double bogey over the final five holes to land Long in the clubhouse at 7 over.

Kevin Tway of Oklahoma State leads the field after firing a two-under-par 69 on day two. He stands alone in the top spot at 3 under par.

Final-round action today will determine who advances to the championship rounds in West Lafayette, Ind.

Former locals advance to NAIA World Series with Union College

Union College punched its ticket to the Avista-NAIA World Series on Friday as it won the NAIA South Central Super Regional, defeating host Cumberland (Tenn.) University 4-1 to claim the best-of-three series 2-1 in Lebanon, Tenn.

The Bulldogs feature three former prep players from the Bowling Green area - infielder Joe Grinstead, a Warren East product, and pitchers Russell Logsdon of Bowling Green High School and Tyler Jones of Greenwood.

The victory sends Union to its first-ever NAIA World Series. It is only the third school from Kentucky to ever advance that far, joining Georgetown College and Spalding University.

“This was a 24-man effort here today,” Union head coach Bart Osborne said in a news release from the school. “All the guys just did their job.”

The Avista-NAIA World Series will be held in Lewiston, Idaho, beginning Friday through May 30. Pairings will be announced Sunday.

In the series against Cumberland, Grinstead, a junior, went 5-for-12 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Logsdon threw 32/3 innings in Game 1, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out one batter.