Pro football

T.F. SOUTH'S THOMAS HELPS SAINTS STAY UNBEATEN: Until now, T.F. South grad Pierre Thomas could not recall playing for a football team at any level that was 10-0, or averaged 36.9 points per game, or had 18 different players score touchdowns.

So the running back says that the New Orleans Saints' accomplishments this season have been remarkable, even if the teams they've beaten have a combined 37-63 record.

"It doesn't matter," said Thomas, who leads the Saints with 584 yards and five TDs rushing. "Every team is tough in this league. You can't take anybody for granted. If some people want to say the teams we played were not that good, they have freedom of speech. That's their choice. That's their opinion. But we know that every team is trying to beat us and it's going to be a competitive game -- always."

Of the teams beaten by the Saints, those with the best records to this point are the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, who are both 6-4. Six of the Saints' victories have come against teams with four wins or fewer, including two one-win teams.

Their remaining opponents include a pair of 7-3 teams, New England and Dallas, starting with the Patriots next Monday night. New Orleans also will play road games against Atlanta (5-5), Carolina (4-6) and Washington (3-7), and a final home game against Tampa Bay (1-9), who the Saints demolished 38-7 on Sunday.

College football

PURDUE'S NEAL NAMED ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: Purdue senior defensive lineman and Merrillville grad Mike Neal was named an honorable mention to the All-Big Ten team. Neal finished his senior season with 35 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Wisconsin running back John Clay was named Offensive Player of the Year; Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones was named Defensive Player of the Year; Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland was named Freshman of the Year; and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz was named Coach of the Year.

Women's basketball

VALPO'S KENNEY HONORED BY HORIZON: Lauren Kenney has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week after leading the Crusaders to a pair of victories last week.

The senior forward tallied a pair of double-doubles as Valpo defeated SIU-Edwardsville 64-55 and Colorado State 68-58 to move to 3-0 for the first time in program history.

Kenney tallied 21 points while grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, to help Valpo down the Cougars. She went 7-of-10 from the floor. On Sunday, she poured in 19 points and grabbed 11 boards, including seven offensive caroms, to power the Crusaders past the Rams. Kenney made 7-of-8 free throws, dished out three assists and registered four steals. She now has five career double-doubles.

Women's cross country

BISHEL 67th AT NCAAS: Ball State's Ali Bishel finished 67th at Monday's NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute. The Chesterton product covered the 6,000 meters in 21:04.7. Illinois' Angela Bizzarri captured the title in 19:46.8.

Women's golf

L.C.'S DAVY AMONG VU SIGNEES: Lake Central's Brianna Davy, a four-time All-Duneland Athletic Conference selection, is among three golfers who have signed letters of intent to play for Valparaiso University.

"It is great to have Brianna join our team as she has consistently been one of the top junior golfers in Northwest Indiana for the past three or four years," coach Mike Higdon said in a release. "She has the dedication and desire to carry that tradition to the collegiate level and I am excited for her to make an immediate impact on our program."

Davy averaged 38.4 for nine holes and 78.3 for 18 holes this season. She also won the 2008 Indiana Mountain Dew Tour Tournament of Champions. Davy will be joined at VU by Erika Pfaender, an academic all-stater at Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.) High School who placed sixth in the state in 2008, and Kelly Voigt, a state qualifier as a senior at Fremd (Palatine) High School.

Women's bowling

GALKA SIGNS WITH VALPO: Lake Central's Kaity Galka has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join Valparaiso University program as a freshman for the 2010-11 campaign.

"I am very excited that Kaity has chosen Valpo and will become a member of our program next year," VU coach Stephen Anthony said in a news release.

Galka, a Dyer native, has helped the Indians to a pair of state championships. Galka, who has averaged a 219 over her high school career and a 231 in league play, has finished with the second highest average in the state among high school bowlers each of the last two years.

Around the horn

Joseph Harris scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Coastal Carolina past Indiana State 77-62 on Monday night. Dwayne Lathan scored 14 points for Indiana State (3-2). ... Valparaiso University's softball team will play 18 home games for the 2010 season, including a home-opening doubleheader against Western Illinois on March 17.