South Carolina wins SEC Tournament in game marred by skirmish, ejections
MiLaysia Fulwiley scored a career-high 24 points including four 3-pointers as No. 1 South Carolina held off No. 8 LSU 79-72 to win the Southeastern Conference Tournament title Sunday, a victory marred by a fourth-quarter fight that led to Gamecocks leading scorer and rebounder Kamilla Cardoso being ejected.
South Carolina (32-0) was ahead 73-66 when Fulwiley stole the ball from Flau'jae Johnson, who wrapped her up and was called for a foul. Johnson then bumped South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins, and the 6-foot-7 Cardoso rushed and pushed the 5-10 Johnson the ground. Players from both benches rushed toward them.
Cardoso and three of her teammates were ejected. Two LSU players who came off the bench were also sent off.
Cardoso can be expected to miss time in the NCAA Tournament for her actions. The Gamecocks enter March Madness as the clear-cut No. 1 seed and the only undefeated team left in Division I, men or women. And they did it against the defending national champion Tigers and SEC player of the year Angel Reese.
It was South Carolina's eighth tournament crown in the past 10 seasons and its 16th straight win over LSU (28-5), including all four meetings since Kim Mulkey became the Tigers' coach three seasons ago.
OTHER CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS >>
Caitlin Clark overcame a cold start to score 30 of her 34 points after halftime and help thirdranked Iowa rally past Nebraska 94-89 in overtime to win a third straight Big Ten Tournament. Hannah Stuelke had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Hawkeyes (29-4), who trailed by 13 points late in the first half while their superstar Clark missed all nine of her 3-point attempts . ... Star freshman Hannah Hildalgo had 22 points — including a pair of baskets for the lead down the stretch — as No. 14 Notre Dame held off No. 10 North Carolina State 5551 in the ACC championship game. It marked the Irish's first title in five years. Hildalgo finished with six rebounds and six assists for the fourth-seeded Fighting Irish (26-6), while Maddy
Westbeld added 16 points and seven boards.
NASCAR
BELL PULLS OUT EMOTIONAL VICTORY AT PHOENIX RACEWAY >> Christopher Bell surged into the lead when Martin Truex Jr. was forced to pit and pulled away for an emotional NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver's victory comes on the heels of a pair of heartbreaks in the desert.
Chris Buescher finished second and Ty Gibbs was third. Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five.
Corning's Tyler Reddick finished 10th and Elk Grove's Kyle Larson was 14th.
Bell led the final 49 laps for his seventh career Cup Series victory — first since Homestead in October.
Golf SCHEFFLER, WITH HOT PUTTER, DEMOLISHES THE FIELD TO WIN AT BAY HILL >>
Scottie Scheffler became the No. 1 player in golf with his sublime tee-to-green game. He got hot with the putter in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and was simply unstoppable.
Scheffler made every important putt to build a threeshot lead at the turn and then poured it on with a game so complete he closed with a bogey-free, 6-under 66 — the lowest score by two shots at Bay Hill in the final round — while playing in the last group.
He wound up winning
the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five shots, the largest margin at Bay Hill since Tiger Woods in 2012.
Scheffler finished at 15-under 273. Wyndham Clark was second at 10-under 278.
MLB METS CLOSER DÍAZ IS SET FOR SPRING DEBUT >>
New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz is set to appear in a game for the first time since tearing a patellar tendon during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The two-time All-Star is expected to be the first reliever after starter Tylor Megill, and the right-hander will have a 20-pitch limit when the Mets face Miami in spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Monday night.
Díaz injured his right knee celebrating with teammates after closing out Puerto Rico's 5-2 victory over the Dominican Republic last March.
NFL MAYFIELD STAYING WITH BUCS AFTER AGREEING TO 3-YEAR DEAL >>
Baker Mayfield is staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after agreeing to a three-year contract worth up to $115 million, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The Tampa Bay Times reported Mayfield, 28, will receive $30 million in 2024 and $30 million in 2025, with $20 million guaranteed in the second year of the deal. The quarterback's salary would increase to $40
million in 2026, the newspaper said.
Mayfield, who has played with four different teams over the past three seasons resurrected his career in 2023 by leading the Bucs to a third consecutive NFC South title.
PATRIOTS AGREE TO TRADE QB JONES TO THE JAGUARS >>
The Patriots and new coach Jerod Mayo agreed to trade Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixthround pick in next month's NFL draft, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade cannot become official until the new league year begins Wednesday and after Jones passes a physical.
The move brings Jones home — he was born and raised in Jacksonville — and provides competition behind starter Trevor Lawrence.
EAGLES 6-TIME PRO BOWL DEFENSIVE TACKLE COX ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT >>
Philadelphia Eagles six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced his retirement.
Cox, a first-round pick in 2012, played all 12 of his seasons in Philadelphia and holds the franchise record for sacks (70) by a defensive tackle, trailing only Reggie White, Trent Cole, Clyde Simmons and Brandon Graham in career sacks.
He joins six-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce in retirement.