Jones scores 25 to power Stanford women past UNLV
Haley Jones had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to help No. 2 Stanford rout UNLV 101-54 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
After opening with a 10840 victory over Cal Poly, the Cardinal have outscored its first two opponents by a combined 115 points.
The game was a reunion for Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer and first-year Lady Rebels coach Lindy La Rocque, who played in four Final Fours with the Cardinal from 2009-12 and was an assistant at her alma mater until taking over at UNLV.
VanDerveer, who improved to 51- 5 against her former assistants and 49-9 against her former players, also inched closer to history. The 67-year- old Hall of Fame coach has 1,096 career wins and is three victories shy of passing Pat Summitt (1,098) as the winningest coach in women’s college basketball history.
Francesca Belibi added 15 points and seven rebounds, and Lexie Hull chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds for Stanford.
Nia Johnson led UNLV (1-2) with 14 points. Bailey Thomas had 10.
Stanford was forced to scramble this past week due to Santa Clara County’s ban on sporting events and practices for three weeks. In addition to adding the Lady Rebels to its schedule, the Cardinal will “host” Washington at the Thomas and Mack on the campus of UNLV today.
With No. 1 South Carolina suffering its first loss of the season, a 54- 46 setback to No. 8 North Carolina State on Thursday, the Cardinal has a clear path to top spot in this week’s poll barring an upset against Washington.
SCU MEN >> Santa Clara announced that its game against New Mexico State, scheduled for Saturday in Santa Cruz, was canceled because New Mexico State was unable to play. GONZAGA- BAYLOR CALLED OFF >> Coaches Mark Few of Gonzaga and Scott Drew of Baylor scheduled Saturday’s game for all the right seasons. They wanted their teams to have another early-season test and play in front of a national TV audience.
The game on CBS between the nation’s top two college basketball teams figured to draw excellent ratings. For now, No. 1 vs. No. 2 is off.
Less than 90 minutes before tip- off, the teams announced the postponement because of two positive COVID-19 tests in the top-ranked Bulldogs program. In a joint statement, they said one player and one nonplayer in the Gonzaga travel party tested positive. The unidentified player didn’t play Wednesday against No. 11 West Virginia.
“We’re disappointed to not be able to play one of the most anticipated games of the season, but we are following the advice of public health officials,” the coaches said.
KANSAS MEN SURVIVE >> Tyon Grant-Foster drove for the go- ahead basket with just over a minute to go, then swatted away Sam Griesel’s layup with 10 seconds left, helping seventhranked Kansas escape with a 65- 61 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday.
Kansas (4-1) trailed 6160 when Grant-Foster, its high-scoring junior college transfer, skated to the basket for an easy layup. North Dakota State (0- 4) promptly turned it over with an offensive foul and then, after two free throws by Christian Braun, Grant-Foster made his mark on the defensive end to help preserve the comeback win. ARIZONA MEN HOLD ON >> Former Salesian High star James Akinjo scored 15 points, Dalen Terry had a steal and the clinching free throws with five seconds left and Arizona edged Eastern Washington 70- 67 on Saturday.
The Eagles had a chance when Tanner Groves converted a three-point play with 41 seconds left and Azuolas Tubelis only made one free throw after being fouled grabbing his own miss with 13 seconds left. The free throw put Arizona on top 68- 65.
Golf
NO FANS AT AT&T >> Spectators will not be permitted at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Feb. 8-14. Because construction needed to begin soon on infrastructure such as grandstands, the decision was made now.
“Unfortunately our ’ 21 event will be unlike any of the previous editions of the tournament since Monterey County remains in a tier that will not permit live audiences at professional events in California,” said Steve John, CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, in a news release. MAYAKOBA CLASSIC >> Emiliano Grillo steadied himself with a pair of birdies over the last six holes Saturday for a 3-under 68, giving the Argentine a one- shot lead going into the final round of the Mayakoba Classic in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
Tom Hoge, without a win in his PGA Tour career, birdied four of the last five holes at El Camaleon Golf Club for a 65 to get within one shot of the lead.
After two days of rain, the course was soft and susceptible to low scores and quick movements, and there were plenty of both. Players were allowed to clean and place their golf balls in the fairway. Adam Long ran off seven birdies on his opening nine holes before he slowed and had to settle for a 63.
Soccer
FANS RETURN TO EPL >> They filed into the stadiums for the first time in nine months, clutching treasured match tickets and with their masks partially hiding the glee on their faces.
What once might have been taken for granted — going to watch their teams play in the English Premier League — felt like a huge privilege Saturday for the fortunate 4,000 given the honor of being the first soccer supporters to be allowed into games in England’s top division since the outbreak of the coronavirus in March.
The fans — 2,000 from West Ham, 2,000 from Chelsea — had contrasting experiences on opposite sides of London.
West Ham imploded at its Olympic Stadium, squandering a 1- 0 halftime lead against Manchester United as substitutes Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford inspired the visitors to a 3-1 win.
England is the first of the major soccer nations to allow some supporters back into games during COVID-19’s second wave now that its national lockdown has ended.
U. S. NATIONAL TEAM >> Forward Sebastian Soto has been added to the U.S. roster for Wednesday’s exhibition against El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 20-year- old forward from San Diego is on loan from Norwich in England’s second tier to Telstar in the Netherlands’ second tier.