Prosecutors have told members of the Duke lacrosse team, 15 of whom are from Long Island, that the investigation into rape charges will proceed even without DNA evidence linking the players to the scene.

Durham County?s chief prosecutor says he has other evidence linking three members of the team to the rape of an exotic dancer at an off-campus party March 13. Attorneys for the players asked the District Attorney?s office to drop the charges after initial DNA tests from the team?s 46 white players came back without a match. The team?s lone black player did not participate in the testing since the accuser says her attackers were white.

No charges have been filed in the case.