Big Sky suspends three officials for error

[Nevadaref]

Updated: Feb. 28, 2006, 7:50 PM ET
Big Sky suspends three officials for error
Associated Press

OGDEN, Utah -- The Big Sky Conference has suspended three women's basketball officials for misapplication of a rule during the Eastern Washington-Montana State game in Bozeman, Mont., on Feb. 25.


Glenn Mayberry, Julie May and Chuck Rydzak have all been suspended for one Big Sky game for failing to apply a rule correctly.


Montana State had six players on the floor on defense with 7:09 left in the first half. An out-of-bounds play ended with an Eastern Washington field goal.


The officiating crew called a technical on Montana State, but mistakenly nullified the two points scored by EWU on the play, the league said.


Having six players on the floor is an officials' mistake, but not a correctable one. Removing the two points scored by Eastern Washington was a misapplication of the rule, the league said.


"We defer to officials for judgment calls," said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. "But on an application of a rule, with three officials on the floor, we expect them to get it right. As a league, we are very supportive of our officials, but a misapplication of a rule cannot be tolerated."


Eastern Washington won the game 63-56.


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So do people agree or disagree with the premise that officials can't be suspended for judgment calls, but when it comes to misapplication of the rules in administering the game the whole crew needs to get it right or face a penalty?