A cool, calm Kobe Bryant pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault before rushing out of an Eagle, Colo., courthouse to catch a private plane to Los Angeles for an NBA playoff game Tuesday.

Lasting no more than five minutes and consisting of just four words, Bryant's plea came as little surprise almost a year after a 19-year-old hotel concierge accused him of rape at a Colorado resort where he was staying awaiting knee surgery.

If convicted, Bryant faces from four years to life in prison.

The plea brought an abrupt end to the latest battery of hearings in the high-profile case. State District Judge Terry Ruckriegle set the next court date for May 27, when he said he hoped to be able to set a trial date.

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"Based upon the status of pending motions, the court has deemed that it would be premature to assign a trial date," Ruckriegle said.

This week's closed-door hearings addressed a number of those undecided issues, such as whether the accuser's sexual and medical history is relevant to the case or if certain prosecution evidence is admissible.

One issue addressed, though not yet ruled on, was whether the T-shirt Bryant wore the night of the encounter containing samples of his accuser's blood was admissible evidence.

Bryant's lawyers also sought to bar from evidence statements he made after the incident to investigators who didn't read him his Miranda rights first.

Ruckleriege asked for written arguments on those issues from defense attorneys Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon and Eagle County prosecutor Mark Hurlbert before May 27, implying that he may rule on a number of key motions at that time.

Monday's hearing brought a surprise visit from Bryant's accuser, who showed up in court while lawyers argued whether her mental health was relevant in the trial.

The defense is seeking to admit medical records allegedly documenting a history of manic depression and suicide attempts.

Early Tuesday, a witness testified behind closed doors as attorneys argued whether the accuser's sexual history could be used against her.

The defense claims Bryant's accuser had sex within a day after the June 30, 2003, encounter and that vaginal injuries found on her were inflicted by someone else.

At this rate, observers anticipate a post-Labor Day trial date, which would afford Bryant the opportunity to play in the summer Olympics.