Arizona couple files sexual assault lawsuit against Georgia Tech's Pastner

A couple in Tucson, Ariz. are suing Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner for sexual assault and battery, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

Jennifer Pendley and her boyfriend Ron Bell filed the lawsuit Thursday, and say Pastner sexually assaulted Pendley in February 2016 in a hotel room in Houston, back during Pastner's final season as Memphis head coach.

Pastner responded with a statement to ESPN delivered by attorney Scott Tompsett.

"There was no sexual assault," Tompsett said. "It is a lie. Josh never acted improperly with Ms. Pendley. Never."

Pendley and Bell's legal action is part of a countersuit filed by the couple after they were sued by Pastner last month for defamation. The coach's lawsuit claims the pair began "a malicious campaign to defame Pastner" through extortion and blackmail related to "false and patently untrue" information that would impact his job with Georgia Tech and NCAA.