Oregon women win NCAA title, complete triple crown
Raevyn Rogers held off USC’s Kendall Ellis down the stretch of the 4x400-meter relay Saturday at Hayward Field, helping Oregon become the first NCAA women’s program to win cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field titles in the same school year.
Rogers’ efforts in the final event of the meet gave the Ducks a 1.8-point win against Georgia. Oregon needed to win the 4x400 to claim the triple crown.
Rogers, who won the 800-meter title a little more than an hour earlier, had a lead of just a few steps when she took the baton for the final relay leg. Ellis got level with her on the backstretch before Rogers found another gear.
“I was hoping they didn’t catch me because my legs were going all over the place,” Rogers said. “I was just trying to get to the finish line.”
Cup stars call the shots in NASCAR Xfinity race
Looking for a new spin on the standard telecast, Fox used eight active NASCAR Cup drivers to provide insight — from the studio to the booth to the pits — during Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.
They didn’t have to worry about learning any new names at the finish: Cup regular Brad Keselowski held off the field of mostly developmental drivers to win the Xfinity race.
Fox benched its starters for one race and used the all-Cup lineup, believed to be the first time an entire broadcast team was comprised only of active athletes in their respective sport.
Kevin Harvick, who had booth experience on Xfinity and Truck telecasts, handled playby-play and Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer hosts. Dave Blaney worked the pits and was the victory lane host.
Keselowski, who won for the first time in five Xfinity starts, wanted to watch the broadcast later that night.
Quigley, Dolson help Sky beat Stars, 85-81 in OT
Allie Quigley scored nine of her 16 points in overtime, including back-to-back 3-pointers, and Stefanie Dolson finished with 25 points to help the Chicago Sky beat the San Antonio Stars 85-81 on Saturday night.
Tamera Young had 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Sky (2-7), who snapped a five-game skid.
Quigley hit 3s on consecutive possessions to spark a 12-2 that gave Chicago an 83-75 lead when Cappie Pondexter hit two free throws with 50 seconds left in overtime. Kayla McBride made two free throws on the other end and, after a steal by Moriah Jefferson, Kayla Alexander’s putback pulled San Antonio within four with 26 seconds to go. Another steal and a layup by Jefferson made it 83-81 four seconds later but the Stars would get no closer.
Jefferson had 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting and tied her career high with five steals for San Antonio (0-9). Dearica Hamby scored a season-high 17 points and McBride added 15.
Jonquel Jones scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and the Connecticut Sun posted their first home victory of the season, beating the Atlanta Dream 104-71 on Saturday night.
The Sun (3-5) opened the season with four losses, including their opener against the Dream. With just nine active players, Connecticut had five score in double figures. Brittney Sykes added 11 apiece. The Dream, who have lost three straight, had won five in a row over the Sun.
The Sun went ahead to stay midway through the first quarter and led 44-32 at halftime behind 10 points each from Stricklen and Williams. The Dream, which committed 21 turnovers, cut the lead to eight in the third quarter but the Sun pulled away from there.
The Sun were without with starting guard Alex Bentley, who is taking a temporary leave to play for Belarus in the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Tournament.
Swoopes thanks mother in emotional induction speech
Sheryl Swoopes fought back tears as she read a poem to her late mother while accepting induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player acknowledged Saturday that the honor felt “bittersweet” because her mother wasn’t with her. Swoopes’ mother, Ida Louise Swoopes, died of colon cancer on March 14.
“Although she’s not physically here with us, I know she’s here in spirit and will forever live on in my heart,” Swoopes said.
As she closed her induction speech, Swoopes read from a poem that ended with the line, “God took you home to prove to us he only takes the best.”
“I love you, Mom,” Swoopes said. “Thank you.”
Swoopes knew this would be an emotional moment, and said she intentionally wore a dress with pockets to hold the tissues that league’s first four seasons.
Harrison, Michael Venus win French Open doubles title
PARIS - Michael Venus has been like an older brother to Ryan Harrison, and the American says that makes their French Open doubles title even more special.
Harrison and Venus, who is from New Zealand, beat American Donald Young and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3 on Saturday to earn their first Grand Slam title.
Venus moved to the United States when he was young and the pair grew up playing tennis together under the tutelage of Harrison’s father Pat, who is still Venus’ coach.
Injured Sharapova pulls out of Wimbledon, grass circuit
Five-time major champion Maria Sharapova has pulled out of Wimbledon qualifying because of an injured left thigh.
Sharapova says Saturday that the muscle tear she got at the Italian Open last month will not allow her to compete at grass-court tournaments she was scheduled to play.
Sharapova received a wild-card entry for the event at Birmingham in June, and she was supposed to enter qualifying for Wimbledon.
The former No. 1 player recently returned from a 15-month doping ban.
Her ranking is still too low for direct entry into main draws, but she was denied a wild card for the French Open. The women’s final in Paris was Saturday.