MOTHER OF PIRATES CATCHER ELIAS DIAZ RESCUED BY POLICE
VENEZUELA» Venezuelan authorities CARACAS, said police rescued the mother of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz three days after she was kidnapped.
Zulia state Gov. Omar Prieto announced Sunday night on his Twitter account that 72-year-old Ana Isabel Soto was rescued earlier in the day by judicial police, state police and other security officers.
Prieto said in a second tweet that he has ordered state police to investigate a police anti-drug team for alleged involvement in the kidnapping. He gave no other details, but Venezuelan media said five officers had been arrested in the case.
The Pirates had confirmed Thursday that Diaz’s mother was missing and said the team was working with Venezuelan officials to secure her safe return.
McPhee helps Stanford beat CU.
Brittany McPhee had 25 points, on 9-of-14 shooting, and 12 rebounds to help No. 17 Stanford defeat Colorado 62-53 in women’s basketball.
Stanford (18-8, 12-2 Pac-12) has won six in a row and nine of its last 10.
Kennedy Leonard and Annika Jank made back-to-back jumpers to give CU (12-13, 3-11) a two-point lead midway through the second quarter, but Stanford used an 18-2 run — scoring the final 12 points as the Buffs went scoreless for almost four minutes — to close the first half with a 35-21 lead.
Quinessa Caylao-Do had 16 points and Leonard scored 12 for Colorado.
The Buffs used a 10-2 run to trim their deficit to 56-44 late in the fourth quarter, and Payton Carter’s layup with eight seconds to play pulled them within a single digit for the first time in the second half.
• Jordin Canada scored 16 points and Lajahna Drummer added 15, leading No. 8 UCLA to a 71-63 victory over No. 25 Arizona State.
• Mercedes Russell scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, helping No. 11 Tennessee dominate No. 18 Georgia 62-46.
Cincinnati runs win streak to 16.
Kyle Washington had 17 points and eight rebounds as No. 6 Cincinnati remained undefeated in American Athletic Conference play, stretching its overall winning streak to 16 games with a 76-51 victory over SMU in men’s basketball.
• Grayson Allen scored 23 points as No. 9 Duke beat Georgia Tech 80-69 and ended a two-game losing streak.
• Moe Wagner scored 20 points, shot 8-of-14 from the field and added 11 rebounds, and No. 20 Michigan rode a hot-shooting first half for an 83-72 victory over Wisconsin.
Brittany Force in frightening crash.
CALIF.» Brittany Force POMONA, escaped serious injuries in a wallbanging crash at the season-opening Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.
John Force Racing said the 31-yearold top fuel driver, the daughter of legendary funny car star John Force, suffered no major internal injuries but does have some bruising of the lungs and would remain hospitalized overnight as a precaution. The team said a CT scan was negative, and an MRI showed subtle findings likely from previous injuries.
The defending season champion was racing against Terry Haddock in the first round of eliminations when her 11,000-horsepower dragster veered right just off the start line, shot to the left — crossing in front of Haddock — and slammed into the left wall.
Eagle: “Patriot Way is fear-based.”
Offensive tackle Lane Johnson of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles took some parting shots at the New England Patriots, saying during a recent interview: “I think the Patriot Way is a fear-based organization. Obviously, do they win? Yes, they win. They’ve won for a long time. Do I think people enjoy and can say ‘I had fun playing there?’ No, I don’t. That’s the God’s honest truth.”