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LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech guard Amber Battle has been suspended for a month after admitting to having "initiated the first contact" in a fight with a football player at the university's recreation center, it was announced Friday. Texas Tech said that Battle, a senior, is "suspended from competition for the entire month of November" for her role in the fight with freshman defensive back Nigel Bethel II during a pickup basketball game last weekend.  "During a pickup basketball game on June 28, I was involved in an incident with Texas Tech football player Nigel Bethel," Battle said in a statement. "I initiated the first contact and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want to take this time to apologize to Nigel, the Texas Tech community, my teammates, coaches and fans. "Nothing I can say can truly repair the harm I have already caused. I did not represent the Double T like I am supposed to and I promise to hold myself to a higher standard from here on." According to a police report, Bethel responded to Battle's actions by causing serious bodily injury with "hands, fists, feet, etc." He has been dismissed from the team and faces felony assault charges. "Texas Tech Athletics has a zero tolerance policy on this type of behavior," the school announced in a statement after the incident. Battle was the Red Raiders' leading scorer with 16.4 points per game last season, and also led the team in rebounds and assists to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors. Bethel was Texas Tech's highest-rated recruit in its incoming freshman class, an ESPN 300 prospect from Miami's Booker T. Washington High School who joined the program this summer. He was expected to participate in both football and track at Texas Tech. The Associated Press and ESPN.com's Damon Sayles contributed to this report.
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