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NCAA-WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
UConn wins ninth title
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Connecticut has completed a sweep of the men's and women's basketball championships.
Breanna Stewart scored a team-high 21 points and Stefanie Dolson came within three assists of a triple-double as the Huskies hammered Notre Dame 79-58 to win the women's title. Dolson finished with 17 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for UConn, which completed a 40-0 season by winning a battle of unbeaten teams.
It's the ninth NCAA title for Connecticut and head coach Geno Auriemma, breaking a tie with Pat Summitt for the most in women's history.
Kayla McBride had a team-high 21 points for the Fighting Irish, who never recovered after falling behind 22-8.
The victory comes a day after the Huskies' men's team knocked off Kentucky 60-54 to win the national championship. UConn also accomplished the title sweep in 2004.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-OREGON/YOUNG
Young staying with Ducks
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon point guard Joseph Young says he's returning to the Ducks for his senior season. The 6-foot-2 Young was the Ducks' leading scorer as they advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year, averaging 18.9 points per game.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-APPY STATE
Davidson assistant gets Appy State job
BOONE, N.C. (AP) — Appalachian State has hired Davidson assistant Jim Fox to coach its men's basketball team.
Fox replaces Jason Capel (kuh-PEHL'), who was fired last month following a 9-21 season.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Braves honor Hammerin' Hank for breaking the Babe's record
UNDATED (AP) — Forty years ago tonight, baseball fans across America were huddled around their televisions as NBC broadcast the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers from Fulton County Stadium. Hank Aaron walked in his first at-bat in the second inning before belting a fourth-inning blast off Al Downing to become baseball's all-time home run champ.
The Braves have honored the 40th anniversary of that historic game tonight. Commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg) participated in the celebration, calling Aaron "ideally suited to become Babe Ruth's heir."
The 80-year-old Aaron received a standing ovation as he strode onto the field with the aid of a walker as he recovers from hip-replacement surgery. Downing threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and former Braves Tom House and Dusty Baker were there as well. House was in the bullpen when he caught Aaron's historic home run ball.
Aaron began and ended his career playing for Milwaukee, so it seems only fitting that a Brewer should hit three homers on the 40th anniversary of Hammerin' Hank's record blast. Ryan Braun produced the second three-homer game of his career and collected a career-high seven RBIs as the Brewers trounced the Phillies 10-4 in Philadelphia.
Braun entered the game with only three singles in his first 20 at-bats before belting a three-run shot in the third off Kyle Kendrick. He capped his assault with another three-run blast in the eighth as Milwaukee ruined the Phillies' home opener.
Also in the majors:
— Brandon Belt socked a two-run homer and Michael Morse hit a two-run single to back Tim Hudson in San Francisco's 7-3 win over Arizona. Hudson shut down the D-backs for the second time in seven days with an eight-inning gem in his first outing at AT&T Park since agreeing to a $23 million, two-year contract in November.
— Gio Gonzalez scattered three hits over six innings and retired his final 1-0 batters to pitch Washington to a 5-0 shutout of Miami. Anthony Rendon (rehn-DOHN') went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as Washington improved to 5-2.
— Delmon Young, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters (WEE'-turz) all homered as part of Baltimore's 20-hit attack in a 14-5 laugher over the Yankees in New York. Young and Wieters each drove in three runs, and Jones delivered one of the Orioles' four doubles.
— Robinson Chirinos hit his first homer of the season to spark a five-run third in the Texas Rangers' 10-7 win over Boston. The Red Sox hit into five double plays, one off the AL record for a nine-inning game.
— Melky Cabrera homered for the fourth straight game and Jose Bautista also went deep in Toronto's 5-2 win over Houston. Mark Buehrle (BUR'-lee) yielded eight hits over 5 1/3 innings but allowed just one run for his second win in as many starts.
MLB-YANKEES
Yanks' closer heads to DL
UNDATED (AP) — Mariano Rivera's replacement didn't last very long. Closer David Robertson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Yankees because of a strained groin. To help fill the void the New Yorkers recalled lefty reliever Cesar Cabral from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Robertson posted two saves in three games before getting hurt. He says he felt discomfort during Sunday's outing at Toronto, and doesn't expect to be sidelined for more than 15 days.
In other major league news:
— Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Tampa Bay Rays because of an elbow injury. The Rays are awaiting MRI results of Moore, who left in the fifth inning of Monday's 4-2 loss after feeling discomfort in his elbow.
— Los Angeles Angels reliever Brian Moran will undergo Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Moran began to feel problems with his elbow during spring training.
— Cincinnati has scratched pitcher Mat Latos from an injury rehabilitation start due to right elbow irritation and placed reliever Trevor Bell on the 15-day disabled list with an aching right elbow. The Reds also activated right-hander Jonathan Broxton from the disabled list following his recovery from a right forearm injury.
— Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis has undergone a cleanup procedure on his left knee and is expected to be out four to six weeks. Ellis had a 20-minute arthroscopic surgery performed on Tuesday to clean up the medial meniscus on his knee. He's expected to begin rehabilitation on Wednesday.
— Kansas City Royals infielder Omar Infante (ihn-FAHN'-tay) has a sprained jaw after being hit by a Heath Bell pitch during last night's win over Tampa Bay. Infante was sent to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he also received six stitches to close a facial cut.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Pistons slow down Hawks' playoff charge
UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks wasted an opportunity to move three games ahead of the New York Knicks as the two teams battle for the NBA's Final Eastern Conference playoff berth with four games remaining.
Instead, it's a two-game lead for the Hawks after they allowed Rodney Stuckey to score 29 points in Detroit's 102-95 victory in Atlanta. Greg Monroe finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Andre Drummond had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons.
Paul Millsap had 24 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
— Ricky Rubio scored 23 points and Minnesota slowed San Antonio's charge toward a No. 1 seed in the playoffs by pounding the Spurs 110-91. Kevin Love had 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Spurs, who've dropped two of three since a 19-game winning streak.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Flyers clinch playoff berth, Leafs eliminated
UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have extended their season by at least four games, while the Toronto Maple Leafs played themselves out of a postseason appearance.
Philadelphia wrapped up a playoff berth as Claude Giroux scored twice and Steve Mason stopped 38 shots in a 5-2 win at Florida. Tye McGinn, Sean Couturier (koo-TOOR'-ee-ay) and Vincent Lecavalier (leh-KAV'-ul-yay) also scored for the Flyers.
— Toronto's playoff hopes ended with a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay as Ondrej Palat (AHN'-dray pah-LAHT') scored twice for the Lightning. Anders Lindback came off the bench to make 25 saves after Ben Bishop left with 14:17 left in the first due to an upper-body injury.
Also in the NHL:
— Brad Richards scored a pair of power-play goals and Martin St. Louis (mahr-TAN' san loo-EE') had three assists as the New York Rangers dumped Carolina 4-1. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves as the Rangers beat the Hurricanes for the 11th time in 12 games.
— Darren Helm provided the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Detroit doubled up Buffalo 4-2 to move closer to wrapping up their 23rd consecutive playoff berth. Mike Babcock became the Red Wings' all-time winningest coach with his 414th, one ahead of Jack Adams.
— Ryan Johansen's 32nd goal of the season was the game-winner as Columbus topped Phoenix 4-3 in overtime. The Coyotes picked up an important standings point when Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored with 15 seconds left in regulation, but the Blue Jackets moved a step closer to securing just their second playoff berth in team history.
— Toronto's playoff hopes ended with a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay as Ondrej Palat (AHN'-dray pah-LAHT') scored twice for the Lightning. Anders Lindback came off the bench to make 25 saves after Ben Bishop left with 14:17 left in the first due to an upper-body injury.
— Jason Spezza (SPET'-suh) scored twice and Craig Anderson turned back 45 shots as Ottawa downed the New York Islanders 4-1.
NFL-UNION MEETING
Goodell meets with union over workplace atmosphere
UNDATED (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL') and union leader DeMaurice (deh-MOHR'-ihs) Smith have met to discuss the league's workplace environment.
In light of the bullying scandal last season involving the Dolphins' Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, both sides want to improve the working atmosphere. Goodell last month targeted this meeting as a chance to create open lines of discussion about the issue.
An NFL spokesman Greg says the meeting brought "productive discussions," while a union spokesman calls it "positive."
Also in the NFL:
— The Buffalo Bills have signed free agent defensive lineman Jarius Wynn, who split playing time between the Chargers and Cowboys last season.
— Two people familiar with the deal tell The Associated Press that free agent defensive tackle Colin Cole will remain with the Carolina Panthers after agreeing to a one-year contract.
NHL-CANUCKS
Vancouver cans Gillis
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks have fired president and general manager Mike Gillis. The move came a day after the team was eliminated from playoff contention. Gillis took over the general manager position after the 2007-08 season. The Canucks advanced to the 2011 Stanley Cup final under Gillis before losing to Boston, and have been in a steady decline since.
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