SPORTS BRIEFS: Albany State’s Artisha Holston named to NCAA South Region team

Holston named to NCAA South Region Team

Albany State forward Artisha Holston has been named to the 2014-2015 Daktronics NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Women’s Basketball All-South Region Team.

Holston, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Butler, is a repeat member of the South Region team. She is a second team member for the second consecutive year. Holston averaged 12.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 assists in 28 games. She recorded 16 double-doubles with points and rebounds, including a career-high 20 against Claflin University. Holston currently ranks 10th in the NCAA in rebounding.

Holston was also named to the 2015 SIAC All-Conference First Team.

During last week’s SIAC tournament, Holston averaged her traditional double-double. She averaged 14.7 points and 12.7 rebounds during ASU’s three games. In the quarterfinal round against Stillman College, Holston scored 16 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Against Kentucky State, she netted 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. In the title tilt versus Benedict, she added 12 points and nine rebounds. For her efforts, she was named to the all-tournament team.

Sports information directors from NCAA Division II South Region schools and conferences selected the two Daktronics All-Region teams. The process concludes with All-American selections announced later in the month.

Darton baseball games postponed

Darton’s baseball games against East Georgia College scheduled for today at 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday have been postponed.

The Cavaliers will play host to East Georgia on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m., followed by a single game on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Rushing leader Murray leaves Cowboys for Eagles

DeMarco Murray, the National Football League’s leading rusher, is leaving the Dallas Cowboys to join the rival Philadelphia Eagles after agreeing to a five-year contract on Thursday, the team said.

Terms of the contract for the free-agent running back were not disclosed by the team, though various media reports earlier said the deal was worth $42 million.

Murray, 27, was named the NFL’s offensive player of the year in 2014 after rushing for a Cowboys franchise-record 1,845 yards and catching 57 passes for another 416 yards.

He also tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 13 and set the NFL record by opening the season with eight consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

Murray replaces running back LeSean McCoy, third in the NFL in rushing with 1,319 yards, who was traded to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso earlier this week.

Before signing Murray, the Eagles had appeared close to a deal with free-agent running back Frank Gore before he reversed course and signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Earlier on Thursday, the Eagles agreed to terms on a three-year contract with running back Ryan Mathews.

A first-round draft pick by San Diego in 2010, Mathews gained 4,061 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in five seasons. He also caught 146 passes for 1,110 yards and one touchdown.

Mathews, 27, twice eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011.

The Eagles have been busy since free agency started, trading quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford, signing cornerback Walter Thurmond and re-signing quarterback Mark Sanchez.