UPDATE 4/6/11 @ 5:45 p.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The woman convicted of trying to extort millions of dollars from Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has reported to a federal prison in Florida to begin serving a sentence of more than seven years.

Karen Cunagin Sypher, 51, checked into the minimum-security federal women's prison in Marianna at 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday, according to prison spokeswoman Jennifer Saad.

Sypher's attorneys have made repeated requests for her to remain free while she appeals convictions on charges of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliating against a witness. Prosecutors say she sought millions from Pitino to stay quiet about a 2003 sexual encounter.

On Tuesday the U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati denied Sypher's latest request to stay out of prison, siding with a lower court judge who rejected the request last week.

Sypher's attorneys have asked the appeals court to reconsider the ruling.

While she is in the 313-bed prison in the Florida panhandle, Sypher will be required to have a job and have her room clean in advance of 7:30 a.m. inspections Monday through Friday, according to the facility's website.

Since being convicted in August, Sypher has hired a new legal team and claimed a broad conspiracy involving Pitino, the federal trial judge and Sypher's former attorney to ensure she would be found guilty. Her attorneys have also requested a new trial.

James Faller, an investigator on Sypher's legal team, said they will continue to fight for her release while her appeals are continuing.

They have asserted in recent court filings that phone calls to Pitino demanding money were made by more than one person, which contradicts testimony at the federal trial in Louisville. Lester Goetzinger testified that he made the three calls in exchange for sexual favors from Sypher, but Sypher's attorneys now say a different man made the third call, and without Sypher's knowledge. On that call to Pitino, the caller threatened to take the case to the media.

The trial judge, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson, found that claim to be "wholly unsupported by evidence" in a ruling on Friday.

Pitino was called to testify at Sypher's trial. The coach, who has reached the NCAA Final Four at three different schools, said that he had sex with Sypher in an empty Louisville restaurant after she whispered to him and then unzipped his pants. Pitino said the sex lasted "15 seconds" and was "unfortunate."

James Faller of U.S. Justice Watch, which is part of Karen Cunagin Sypher's legal team, said in an email Tuesday that Sypher is to report April 6 to the federal prison at Marianna, Fla.

Sypher made another request Monday for a new trial. A judge has rejected two other attempts to win a new trial since her August conviction.

Sypher was sentenced in February to more than seven years in prison for extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said she sought millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino in 2009 to stay quiet about a tryst in a restaurant.

Karen Sypher, appearing Thursday at a news conference with her new lawyer, said she had multiple witnesses ready to testify on her behalf, but her lawyer, James Earhart, wouldn't call any of them.

A jury convicted Sypher in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliating against a witness. Prosecutors said Sypher demanded millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino to stay quiet about their one-night stand at a Louisville restaurant in 2003. Her defense rested without calling any witnesses.

Earhart withdrew from the case Wednesday, shortly after David Noland of Washington, D.C., filed a notice of appearance.

Karen Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, filed a request Tuesday in U.S. District Court asking that the Oct. 27 hearing be put off for at least 30 days. Earhart says he needs the time to finish preparing for the sentencing.

A jury convicted Sypher in August of three counts of extortion, two counts of lying to the FBI and a count of retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said Sypher demanded millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino to stay quiet about a sexual tryst between the two at a Louisville restaurant in 2003.

The jury delivered its verdict Thursday after deliberating more than five hours over two days.

Karen Cunagin Sypher, 50, of Louisville was convicted of extortion, lying to authorities and retaliating against a witness. She faces a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines, the penalty will likely be lighter.

The case involved a 2003 sexual encounter between Pitino and Sypher at a table inside a restaurant closed for the night. Pitino testified she came on to him and the sex was consensual. After she was charged, Sypher told police it was rape. Pitino was never charged.

Karen Cunagin Sypher has pleaded not guilty to extortion and other charges. Her attorneys rested their case Wednesday without calling any witnesses, but claimed during closing arguments that her now ex-husband was behind the scheme.

Prosecutors say Sypher was "looking for a golden parachute" when she demanded $10 million, college tuition for her children and her house paid off in exchange for her silence about having sex with the coach at an Italian restaurant in July 2003.

If convicted of extortion and lying to the FBI, she faces up to seven years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Ford told jurors Wednesday that Karen Cunagin Sypher was "looking for a golden parachute" when she demanded $10 million, college tuition for her children and her house paid off in exchange for her silence about a July 2003 sexual encounter with the coach.

Ford called the case "nothing more than a pure shakedown" of Pitino.

Closings began after Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, rested the defense's case without calling a single witness. Sypher has pleaded not guilty.

The jury is expected to get the case by early afternoon.

The aide, Tim Sypher, testified Friday that Pitino did not mention taking Karen Cunagin Sypher to get an abortion. Tim Sypher, 49, said he called clinics in Indiana and Ohio before taking Karen Sypher to Cincinnati, where she terminated the pregnancy on Aug. 29, 2003.

Tim Sypher testified that he paid for the procedure from $3,000 Pitino gave for medical insurance.

Karen Cunagin Sypher is accused of trying to extort millions from Pitino. She has pleaded not guilty.

Tim and Karen Sypher, now divorced, would marry less than a year later.

Tim Sypher, a longtime Pitino aide, testified Thursday that Karen Sypher first made the rape allegation in 2007, when their marriage started to deteriorate and finances became an issue. Tim Sypher said his ex-wife in 2009 started talking about things she wanted from Pitino and said, "She's nuts."

Karen Sypher is charged with extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors say she threatened to publicize allegations that Pitino raped her unless he delivered cash, cars and a house.

Just before lunch, Pitino completed his testimony.

The judge ended testimony for the day early Thursday afternoon with Tim Sypher on the stand. He'll return to testify again Friday.

In testimony Thursday afternoon backed by records from Cincinnati Women's Services, registered nurse Christina Weigand said Sypher listed the desire for no more children as the reason for terminating the pregnancy. Records show Sypher paid $430 for the procedure.

Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino testified earlier in the day that he gave Sypher $3,000 for medical insurance after finding out she was pregnant.

Sypher is charged with extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors say she threatened to publicize allegations that Pitino raped her unless he delivered cash, cars and a house.

Just before lunch, Pitino completed his testimony.

Pitino said he initially kept quiet to "contain" potentially damaging information.

He and the attorney for Karen Cunagin Sypher, who is charged with extortion, had multiple heated exchanges during two hours of questioning Thursday.

Pitino a day earlier acknowledged on the stand the two had sex in a restaurant booth. Sypher has alleged it was rape.

During questioning about the rape allegation Thursday, Pitino interrupted defense lawyer James Earhart saying he's "here to give the truth." Earhart replied: "I bet you are."

UPDATE 7/29/10 @ 11 a.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino and the attorney for a woman accused of attempting to extort him have started the trial's fourth day of testimony with a heated exchange.

Attorney James Earhart questioned Pitino on Thursday about calls made to the coach's phone about his 2003 encounter inside a restaurant with Karen Cunagin Sypher.

On Wednesday, Pitino admitted on the stand the two had sex in a restaurant booth, calling it "brief" and "unfortunate." Sypher has alleged it was rape, but no charges were ever filed.

After some questions about the rape allegation Thursday, Pitino interrupted Earhart, telling him he's "here to give the truth." Earhart replied: "I bet you are."

Sypher has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Pitino testified Wednesday that he met Karen Cunagin Sypher on July 31, 2003, at an Italian restaurant, where Pitino had gone following a golf outing.

Pitino said he and Sypher exchanged small talk after the restaurant closed. He testified that as they were leaving Sypher whispered something, opened his pants and the two then had sex.

Sypher is charged with extortion, asking for cash, cars and a house to stay quiet about the sexual liaison. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming Pitino sexually assaulted her.

A packed federal courtroom watched Pitino's testimony. Sypher, sitting a few feet away at the defense table, appeared unfazed.

Attorneys selected the eight men and eight women Wednesday after three days of winnowing a pool of more than 90 people in the case of Karen Cunagin Sypher. Attorneys made their selections from a final group of 52 jurors.

Testimony in the trial is scheduled to begin July 26.

Along with extortion, Sypher faces charges of retaliating against a witness and lying to the FBI. She is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, her house to be paid off and $10 million. Sypher has pleaded not guilty.

In a brief filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, prosecutors said Karen Sypher tried to extort an auto glass salesman in 1999.

The brief was filed in advance of Sypher's July 26 trial on charges she attempted to extort $10 million from the University of Louisville basketball coach last year, then lied to the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn Jr. says in the brief the earlier case, which resulted in a civil lawsuit but not criminal charges, will be introduced at the trial. Sypher has pleaded not guilty.

An attempt to reach Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, was unsuccessful.

Karen Cunagin Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, entered the not guilty plea Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court, a month after a federal grand jury handed up a second indictment against her.

The newest charges stem from a police report filed by Sypher in which she accused Pitino of raping her. The FBI, Louisville police and prosecutors have said there was no basis for her rape allegations.

Sypher entered not guilty pleas in May to federal charges of trying to extort money from Pitino and lying to the FBI. She is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, her house to be paid off and $10 million.

Some anti-abortion groups are calling for the university to fire Pitino because a woman he admitted to having extramarital sex with says she had an abortion.

But Catholics attending Mass Sunday morning said the coach, a self-professed Catholic, should get another chance.

Arnold Brown says Pitino is a great man who put himself in a bad position. Brown, attending St. Frances of Rome in Louisville, says he opposes abortion. But he says Pitino's moral failings are between him and God.

Pitino has admitted to police that he had sex in 2003 with Karen Cunagin Sypher, who was later charged with trying to extort the coach.

Pitino also apologized to the university and says he'll continue
coaching the Cardinals "as long as they will have me."

Pitino told police he had sex at a Louisville restaurant six
years ago with a woman who approached him. She's since been charged
with trying to extort money from him.

At a press conference Wednesday he did not specifically address
the police report but said he'd already apologized to his family
months ago and now wants to apologize to his extended family at the
university.

He says he'll continue to cooperate with authorities in the
extortion case.

Steve Pence told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Pitino believed he gave Karen Cunagin Sypher $3,000 for medical insurance six years ago after she told him she was pregnant.

Pitino told police that Sypher said she was going to have an abortion and did not have medical insurance. Pence said Pitino asked Sypher how much the insurance would cost and she told him $3,000.

Pence denied that Pitino gave her the money explicitly for an abortion.

The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported on its Web site Tuesday that Pitino told police he had been been drinking in a Louisville restaurant and had consensual sex with Karen Sypher in August 2003.

The police report says he denies allegations by Sypher that he raped her after the restaurant closed and at another time somewhere else.

Police reports say he told investigators he gave Sypher $3,000 to have an abortion.

Last month, a Kentucky prosecutor said a complaint filed with a police sex-offense unit by Sypher wouldn't be prosecuted because it lacks supporting evidence.

Sypher has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of trying to extort money from Pitino and lying to the FBI.