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March Madness: Top women’s teams tip off as tourney begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

By The Associated PressMarch Madness has begun! Here is what to know about the women’s NCAA Tournament, including the favorites and underdogs as well as key games, how to watch and tips on polishing up your bracket!TOP SEEDSThe top four seeds in the tournament are South Carolina, Indiana, Virginia Tech and Stanford. Each is in a region, some tougher than others (on paper). We break them down for you:SOUTH CAROLINA (32-0): The defending national champions are the No. 1 overall seed they opened with an easy win over Norfolk State. The Greenville I Region includes two teams in No. 2 seed Maryland and No. 4 seed UCLA that lost to the Gamecocks earlier this season. South Carolina is loaded, with two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year Aliyah Boston and leading scorer Zia Cooke. INDIANA (27-3): The Hoosiers landed the top seed in the Greenville II Region and start against red-hot Tennessee Tech, which has won eight games in a row. Mackenzie Holmes leads Indiana with 22.3...

Man in custody accused of Westminster murder after victim found with multiple gunshots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

A man was shot to death Thursday and a suspect is accused of second-degree murder, Westminster police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man pleads guilty in 2015 Denver cold case murder as victim was visiting family Crime and Public Safety | Northglenn homicide suspect arrested in Arvada after car crash is identified Crime and Public Safety | Arrest made in death of truck driver staged to look like an accident in Weld County Crime and Public Safety | Jefferson County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting death of his wife Crime and Public Safety | Jury finds Denver man guilty for role in killing of woman with AR-15 after fender-bender Police responded around 8:05 p.m. Thursday to the 9600 block of Perry Street in Westminster on a report of a shooting, according to a news release.Officers found a man who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospi...

Rockies spring training report: Versatile Harold Castro making his mark

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

Warren Schaeffer, the Rockies’ new third base/infield coach was talking about Harold Castro’s versatility, noting that Castro got the start at first base in Friday’s Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.“And he can hit, too,” Schaeffer added during a phone interview.Castro, who can play every infield position besides catcher, and can also play outfield in a pinch, went 1-for-3 Friday and has now hit in 10 of 11 games for a .414 average (12-for-29).Castro, 29, slashed .284/.309/.377 over parts of five seasons with Detroit but was non-tendered in the fall and came to spring training as a non-roster invitee.Injury updates: Two accomplished sluggers, designated hitter/outfielder Charlie Blackmon and first baseman C.J. Cron, are dealing with back issues.Blackmon hasn’t appeared in a Cactus League game since March 10 because of back soreness. Blackmon has been sidelined longer than the Rockies anticipated but manager Bud Black said he thinks Blac...

Woman arrested for allegedly trying to kidnap child from shopping cart in Ventura

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

A woman was arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap a child from a shopping cart in Ventura on Thursday.The suspect was identified as Christine Brown, 56, by the Ventura Police Department.An off-duty officer was exiting a store on the 7800 block of Telegraph Road around 6 p.m. when he overheard a child screaming and crying.The officer spotted a man and a woman struggling over a small child around 3 to 4 years old, police said. The child’s father was shouting at Brown to let go of the child while yelling for help. He shouted that he did not know who the suspect was, according to arrest documents.During the struggle, Brown kicked the father and tried to punch him, but struck the child instead, police said.The off-duty officer intervened and called for backup. He pushed Brown away who eventually fled the scene. Brown was located and arrested a short time later by arriving officers.The father told police that as he was exiting the store, Brown approached him and “grabbed the child w...

Clutch shooting disappears as Warriors drop 10th straight road game in Atlanta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

A high-scoring game was inevitable. And Warriors’ road losses are becoming inevitable, too.The Warriors played without Draymond Green, who served his one-game suspension after earning his 16th technical foul against the Clippers. The Atlanta Hawks have one of the league’s worst defensive ratings. Little resistance on either end resulted in a 127-119 Warriors loss at State Farm Arena on Friday.With the loss, the Warriors lose their 10th straight road game and move to 36-35 overall.Struggling from 3-point land, the Warriors had to bear down against a bigger Hawks team in the paint to keep pace offensively. By halftime, 44 of the Warriors’ 66 points came inside the paint and the team finished the game shooting 11-for-40 from 3.Without Green, Andrew Wiggins (out indefinitely due to a family matter) and Gary Payton II (core injury), the Warriors struggled to make stops.Kevon Looney carried the load, scoring a regular-season career high 18 points along with 16 rebounds.A...

With Cameron Brink out, Haley Jones leads Stanford to NCAA Tournament first round win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

STANFORD — Most teams would struggle if they were missing an All-American.Then again, most teams don’t have two All-Americans.With Cameron Brink missing the game because of an illness, Haley Jones had 17 points and six rebounds to lead No. 1 seed Stanford to a 92-49 win on Friday night over No. 16 seed Sacred Heart in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.The senior — who was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press (AP) this week — scored all 17 of her points in the first half on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Jones only played seven minutes in the second half as the Cardinal pulled away from the Pioneers.The Cardinal will play in the second round on Sunday, with the time still to be determined, against the winner of No. 8 seed Ole Miss and No. 9 seed Gonzaga’s game.Fellow senior Hannah Jump broke Stanford’s program record for 3-pointers in a single season when she beat the halftime buzzer from deep, with her third triple of the first half giving her 97 for the se...

Reeves, Tshiebwe lead Kentucky past Providence in NCAAs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Antonio Reeves scored 22 points and Oscar Tshiebwe pulled down 25 rebounds in an overpowering display, helping Kentucky beat Providence 61-53 in Friday night’s first round of the NCAA Tournament.Tshiebwe’s rebounding work was the second-most in the tournament since 1973, and 11 of his rebounds came on the offensive glass — a big factor in the sixth-seeded Wildcats (22-11) staying in control as both offenses grinded to a halt after halftime.With the two-time Associated Press All-American grabbing just about every loose ball, Kentucky finished with a 48-31 rebounding advantage, controlling the offensive glass (plus-10) and dominating in second-chance points for an 18-2 edge.On a day when neither team shot well after halftime, that boardwork was vital to sending Kentucky on to face the Montana State-Kansas State winner Sunday in the East Region — a big turnaround from last year’s surprising first-round exit against 15th-seeded Saint Peter’...

Virginia claims 4 more titles at NCAA swim championships

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kate Douglass and sisters Alex and Gretchen Walsh each won individual titles on Friday at the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships.Virginia leads the standings on day three of the four-day event with 374.5 points, followed by Texas with 272.5.Douglass defended her title in a stacked 100-yard butterfly with a time of 48.46 to lower her own NCAA record. Douglass edged defending Olympic champion Maggie MacNeil of LSU at 48.51. The top three swimmers, including Stanford’s Torri Huske, all went under 49.00.Virginia grabbed gold and silver in the 400 IM. Alex Walsh became a back-to-back champion at 3:57.24 to set a program record and Ella Nelson matched her best finish in the event at 3:59.54.Stanford’s Taylor Ruck also won her second consecutive NCAA title in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:42.36. Virginia freshman Aimee Canny won bronze with a personal-best time of 1:42.50.Gretchen Walsh avenged a runner-up finish in the 100-yard backstroke in 2...

Without Brink, Stanford reaches 2nd round of March Madness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Haley Jones scored 17 points for a top-seeded Stanford team missing star Cameron Brink because of a stomach bug, and the Cardinal advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by beating 16th-seeded Sacred Heart 92-49 on Friday night.Freshman Talana Lepolo dished out seven assists in her NCAA debut as Stanford advances to the second round Sunday against the winner of Friday’s second game between No. 8 seed Ole Miss and ninth-seeded Gonzaga.Stanford, earning a No. 1 seed for a third straight year, notched the program’s 100th NCAA Tournament victory — third most all-time behind Tennessee and UConn. The Cardinal (29-5) have reached the Sweet 16 in 14 consecutive tournaments and haven’t lost in the first two rounds since falling to Florida State at home in 2007.Freshman Ny’Ceara Pryor scored 12 points to lead cold-shooting Sacred Heart (19-14), which overcame a 2-9 start to the season, won its first NCAA Tournament game and kept surprising all the way to Ma...

Timberwolves’ Edwards leaves game with sprained right ankle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards left the game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday because of a sprained right ankle. Edwards was hurt late in the first quarter when he landed awkwardly after jumping while throwing a pass. He stayed down clutching his ankle before being helped to the back.Losing Edwards would be a big blow for the Timberwolves, who came in tied for seventh in the Western Conference and are trying to avoid the play-in. He came into the game averaging 25 points and made his first All-Star team this year. ___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource