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Former San Diego State women's basketball coach Beth Burns is suing her former employer, saying she was forced out for demanding that women's athletics be put on equal footing with men's.

Burns alleges breach of contract in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court. It says she retired in April when told she would otherwise be fired.

The lawsuit claims the school told her she allegedly struck a subordinate. Burns says she never intentionally hit anyone and that the claim was an excuse to retaliate against her for demands that women's basketball get fair treatment.

University spokesman Greg Block says the school doesn't comment on pending litigation.

Burns is the winningest coach in Aztecs women's basketball history, going 295-186 in 16 seasons.