In brief: Whitworth hires Bowman as assistant coach

Women’s basketball: Heather Bowman, the all-time leading scorer in the West Coast Conference while playing for Gonzaga, has been hired as an assistant coach at Whitworth University, Pirates head coach Helen Higgs announced Wednesday.

Bowman takes over for Heidi Goicoechea, who resigned in March after six years as Whitworth’s assistant coach.

Bowman set the WCC career scoring record with 2,165 points. She was a four-time first-team All-WCC selection.

Bowman had a successful career at Lewis and Clark High. As a senior in 2006, Bowman led the Tigers to the State 4A championship, earning MVP of the tournament.

Cheney’s Gray makes big move

Rodeo: It’s time for bareback riders to start looking over their shoulders.

 Cheney cowboy Ryan Gray, who was atop the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association bareback standings before suffering a serious injury the second day of the National Finals Rodeo last December, is back on track.

 A lacerated liver derailed the start of his season and a rib injury postponed it further. But after picking up $17,442 during the lucrative Fourth of July week, commonly called Cowboy Christmas, Gray, who turns 28 next week, is making a run at his seventh consecutive NFR. His abbreviated season earnings of more than $23,000 put him in 25th place, about $5,000 out of the top 15, which qualify for the NFR.

 Colbert tie-down roper Tyson Durfey is also picking up steam. Not in the top 20 at the start of June, Durfey got on a roll by winning just shy of $16,000 last week to vault into 11th place in the standings.

Dave Trimmer

Chiefs announce 2011-12 schedule

Hockey: The Spokane Chiefs will open the home portion of the 2011-12 regular season on Oct. 1 against the Tri-City Americans, the team announced while releasing its schedule.

It will be the second half of a home-and- home series with the Americans after the Chiefs open the season Sept. 24 at Tri-City.

Of the 36 home games, 26 will be played on the weekend. Spokane will play two Monday games, including a 2:05 p.m. start on Jan. 16 against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Complete schedule, B4