Ionescu leads preseason All-America team
Sabrina Ionescu decided to come back for her senior season at Oregon instead of heading to the WNBA.
The NCAA career leader for triple- doubles was honored Thursday as a member of The Associated Press women’s preseason All- America basketball team. Ionescu, from Walnut Creek and Miramonte High, averaged 19.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists last season. She is joined on the All-America team by Baylor’s Lauren Cox, Texas A& M’s Chennedy Carter, Maryland’s Kaila Charles and Miami’s Beatrice Mompremier.
Ionescu has 18 tripledoubles in her career and is poised to add more for the No. 1 team in the country, which lost to Cox and Baylor in the Final Four last season.
Ducks coach Kel ly Graves said he has seen a new determination from his star guard this fall, but also the ability to relax and enjoy her final college season.
“I’ve seen tremendous focus, but also I’ve seen a young lady having some fun,” Graves said. “I don’t think she put a burden on herself or anyone else. I think she’s been a lot of fun this fall. She’s having a great time.”
Golf
LI DELIGHTS HOME CROWD IN SHANGHAI » Li Haotong gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about Thursday with an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. Li finished his round with an 8-foot par save to lead Victor Perez of France.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele shot 66, joining a group that included Adam Scott and Sungjae Im.
Rory McIlroy opened with a 67.
NELLY KORDA IN GOOD START
TO DEFEND TAIWAN TITLE » Defending champion Nelly Korda and Mi Jung Hur each shot 6-under 66 to share the first-round lead at the Swinging Skirts in Taipei, Taiwan. Korda, who earned her firstLPGA Tour victory here last year, had three bogeys but made up for it with seven birdies and an eagle.
Minjee Lee, who was the runner-up a year ago, was a stroke off the pace after a 67. SCHEFFLER LEADS PGA TOUR’S BERMUDA CHAMPIONSHIP » Scottie Scheffler closed with a bogey for a 9- under 62 and a one- stroke lead over Wes Roach after the first round of the PGA Tour’s inaugural Bermuda Championship. Scheffler played his opening nine at Port Royal Golf Club in 6-under 29.
Rob Oppenheim, Bo Hoag and Russell Knox shot 64. Oppenheim birdied seven of the first eight holes, then parred the final 10.
Lanto Griffin, making his first start since winning the Houston Open three weeks ago, shot 71.
Soccer
EARTHQUAKES SIGN YOUNG PLAYERS TO NEW DEALS » The San Jose Earthquakes signed midfielders Eric Calvillo and Gilbert Fuentes to new multiyear contracts. Calvillo, 21, signed with the Earthquakes ahead of the 2018 season after a stint with the New York Cosmos. He has since made three starts in five total MLS appearances for San Jose.
Fuentes, 17, originally signed a Homegrown Player contract in January 2018 at 15 years old, becoming the youngest signing in club history and ninth youngest in MLS history at the time. Fuentes has made two MLS appearances for San Jose, including his debut at 16 years old in 2018, while playing extensively on loan for Reno.
• Quakes defender Nick Lima and midfielder Jackson Yueill were among 20 from Major League Soccer invited to the U. S. national team’s early training camp ahead of CONCACAF Nations League games against Canada and Cuba. The MLS players will train in Bradenton, Florida, from Nov. 2-9. The regular training camp starts in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 10.
College football
GEORGIA SOUTHERN STUNS NO. 20 APPALACHIAN STATE » Wesley Kennedy ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and Georgia Southern upset No. 20 Appalachian State for the second straight season 24-21 in Boone, North Carolina.
The Eagles (5-3, 3-1 Sun Belt) ran for 335 yards and held the country’s ninthhighest scoring offense in check most of the night. Georgia Southern ended Appalachian State’s 13game winning streak, handing the Mountaineers (7-1, 4-1) their first loss since the Eagles knocked off them out of the Top 25 more than a year ago with a 34-14 victory. NO. 12 BAYLOR REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER WIN OVER WVU » Charlie Brewer threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, and John Mayers kicked a go-ahead 36-yard field goal to help
No. 12 Baylor win its 10th game in a row, 17-14 over West Virginia (3-5, 1- 4 Big 12) at home.
The Bears (8- 0, 5- 0), who two seasons ago won only one game, are the league’s only undefeated team — and one of eight remaining among FBS teams.
The Mountaineers have lost four Big 12 games in a row. HULA BOWL RETURNS AFTER 12-YEAR ABSENCE » The Hula Bowl is back after a 12-year absence. The showcase for college seniors will take place on Jan. 26, 2020, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Former NFL head coaches Rex Ryan and Mike Smith will lead the teams, whose rosters also will include players from Australia and Japan.
Organizers of the Hula Bowl, which was played annually from 1946 to 2008, announced a television deal Thursday with CBS Sports.
Motorsports
VERSTAPPEN CALLS HAMILTON JABS DISRESPECTFUL » Max Verstappen is happy to take all the space Lewis Hamilton will give him — in his head.
Verstappen fired back Thursday at the Mercedes driver’s verbal jabs after the Mexican Grand Prix. He said Hamilton’s suggestion to give the Red Bull driver as much space as possible to avoid getting hit on the race track were “disrespectful.” Hamilton and Verstappen clashed when their cars bumped early in the opening lap in Mexico City last weekend. The contact caused Verstappen to drop from fourth to eighth and his chance of winning was ruined three laps later with a punctured tire when he touched Valtteri Bottas’ car
amilton went on to win and Verstappen finished sixth. After the race, Hamilton said smart drivers give Verstappen plenty of room because he’s a “magnet” for contact. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who has had his own clashes with Verstappen, agreed.
“From my side, it was a bit of a silly comment to make,” Verstappen said ahead of the U. S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. “I think I’m always a hard racer, but fair. I think it’s just not correct. But it’s easy to have a dig at someone. I don’t need to dig into other people in a press conference. I think it’s a bit disrespectful.”
Horse racing
JUVENILE TOPS OPENING DAY OF BREEDERS’ CUP » Breeders’ Cup weekend kicks off with five stakes today, topped by the $2 million Juvenile, as Santa Anita hosts the world championships for a record 10th time in Arcadia.
Dennis’ Moment is the early 8- 5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile, whose winner is tabbed as the horse to watch heading into next year’s Kentucky Derby. The season- ending Breeders’ Cup goes off amid intense scrutiny at the track where 36 horses have died since last December, prompting safety and medication reforms by track ownership and outrage from the public.
Tennis
NADAL BEATS WAWRINKA AGAIN TO REACH PARIS MASTERS QUARTERS » Rafael Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka for the 19th time in 22 meetings, winning 6- 4, 6- 4 to reach the Paris Masters quarterfinals. Nadal next faces 2008 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he chases a first Paris title, which would guarantee him the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time. Novak Djokovic remains on course to meet Nadal in the final. The four-time Paris champion reached the last eight with a 7- 6 (7), 6-1 win against Kyle Edmund.