South Carolina returns to the NCAA championship game in a showdown with newcomer UCLA
PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are back in a familiar place, reaching the NCAA championship game for the fourth time in five years. They’ll have to beat a title-seeking newcomer in UCLA to win the ultimate prize. South Carolina will be trying to win its fourth national championship in the nine years. The Gamecocks played stifling defense to knock off UConn 62-48 and end the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak in the semifinals Friday night. UCLA played incredible defense of its own in its 51-44 win over Texas. The Bruins spoiled a chance at the first all-SEC title game since 2017, when Staley’s team beat Mississippi State, which was led by current Texas coach Vic Schaefer.
South Carolina smothers UConn 62-48 to advance to NCAA title game, snaps Huskies’ 54-game win streak
PHOENIX (AP) — Ta’Niya Latson scored 16 and Agot Makeer added 14 points and South Carolina played stifling defense to beat UConn 62-48 on Friday night, ending the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak and advancing to the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game.The Gamecocks have now reached the NCAA championship game in four of the last five seasons, including the past three. They will be looking to win a fourth national title Sunday when they face UCLA, capping off another March Madness. South Carolina (36-3) will be looking to win its fourth national championship. UConn (38-1) entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history and for the third straight time left without a title. The Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals.
UCLA withstands Texas' late charge, reaches first national championship game with grinding 51-44 win
PHOENIX (AP) — Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block late, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas for a 51-44 win to reach the women’s NCAA Tournament national championship game for the first time. Manhandled by eventual national champion UConn in their first Final Four a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semifinal with the best season in program history. A chance at a first national championship game appearance had to go through the only team to beat them this season. Overpowered in the first meeting, the Bruins turned the bully tables on Texas (35-4), shutting down All-American Madison Booker while building a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
President Trump signs order intended to stabilize college sports, threatens lost federal funding
President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at fixing college sports that would give federal agencies authority to cut funding at schools that don’t comply with mandates covering transfers, eligibility and pay-for-play in the rapidly changing industry. The order is a laundry list of proposed fixes that lawmakers and college leaders have been pushing for. Among the notable parts of the order was a call to establish “clear, consistent and fair eligibility limits, including a five-year participation window.”
Auriemma rips officials and beefs with Staley, but bad night for Strong and Fudd is why UConn fell
PHOENIX (AP) — UConn’s Geno Auriemma was not a happy man. The Huskies coach was upset about the officiating, with his team’s performance or South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. The Huskies coach ripped into the officiating during a live TV interview and then got into a heated argument with Staley in the final seconds of their 62-48 loss to the Gamecocks. But a rough night for UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd was the main cause of their stunning collapse in the national semifinals of the women’s Final Four on Friday night.
NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic to miss rest of Lakers' regular season with hamstring strain
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers’ regular season with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, the team says. Doncic is the NBA’s top scorer and the driving force behind the Lakers’ surge into the third spot in the Western Conference standings, but he injured his leg during Los Angeles’ blowout loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday. An MRI exam revealed the severity of the strain. The Lakers (50-27) have just five games left before the postseason, starting Sunday at Dallas. Doncic is averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Magic overcome Cooper Flagg's 51-point night as Mavericks lose 14th straight home game
DALLAS (AP) — Wendell Carter Jr. scored 28 points and the Orlando Magic beat Dallas 138-127, overcoming a 51-point showing from rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and handing the Mavericks their 14th consecutive loss at home. Desmond Bane had 27 points for the Magic, who are safely in the play-in tournament with an outside shot at the top six and automatic entry into the East playoffs. Flagg scored 24 points in the fourth quarter after he was given a technical that led to the ejections of coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall. The 19-year-old Flagg is the youngest in NBA history to score 50 points.
Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer named The Associated Press men's national player of the year
Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer is The Associated Press men's college basketball national player of the year. The high-end NBA prospect helped the Blue Devils win 35 games while reaching No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. Boozer is the fifth freshman to win the honor. He's also the second in a row from Duke, following Cooper Flagg. Boozer averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds. He claimed 59 of 61 votes from AP Top 25 voters in results released Friday. BYU freshman and fellow top pro prospect AJ Dybantsa claimed the other votes after averaging a national-best 25.5 points.
Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg named Associated Press Coach of the Year after breakthrough season
Fred Hoiberg of Nebraska has been named The Associated Press men's basketball coach of the year. He led the Cornhuskers to a 28-win season, including their first NCAA Tournament win and a run to the Sweet 16. Hoiberg received 17 votes from a 61-person media panel, edging Duke’s Jon Scheyer. Hoiberg, with deep roots in Lincoln, built a roster that excited fans and changed the perception of Nebraska as just a football school.
NFL says Rashee Rice will not be disciplined over ex-girlfriend’s assault allegations
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The NFL has decided not to discipline Rashee Rice after a former girlfriend posted images of bruises and wounds on social media. The league stated that Rice "has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy." Rice's attorney expressed gratitude for the NFL's investigation. Rice previously missed six games last season due to a personal conduct policy violation related to a car crash. He pleaded guilty to felony charges and served jail time. The latest allegations involve a lawsuit from his former girlfriend, who claims Rice physically assaulted her multiple times.
