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Emmert promises WBCA he will work to fix 'stark' inequities

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO – NCAA President Mark Emmert promised the Women's Basketball Coaches Association he will work with coaches to fix the “stark difference” between the Division I men's and women's tournaments. He asked Emmert what he could do to make sure those people give women's basketball the same advantages and opportunities. “Maybe that’s what has to happen in women’s basketball?” Auriemma said. "Maybe women’s basketball has got to separate itself from the other women’s sports? Yet for the women's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, only “NCAA Women's Basketball” was in the middle of the court.

Stanford rallies to beat Louisville 78-63, reach Final Four

Lexie Hull had 21 points, Ashten Prechtel scored each of her 16 in the second half and Stanford reached the Final Four by rallying for a 78-63 victory over Louisville on Tuesday night. “To play a second half and beat them by 27 really says a lot about how hard people were playing,” VanDerveer said. Stanford dropped that one 62-53, ending its previous appearance in the Final Four. Stanford (29-2) trailed by 12 midway through the third quarter before scoring 13 consecutive points to take its first lead since early in the game. We weren’t aggressive enough.”AdThe Cardinal got going in the second half and made six of their final eight 3-point attempts.

South Carolina drubs Texas 62-34 to reach Final Four

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO – One by one, South Carolina players walked through the confetti and climbed the ladder to cut down the net in the Alamodome. Zia Cooke scored 16 points and South Carolina used its stifling defense to advance to the Final Four for the third time, shutting down Texas for a 62-34 victory Tuesday night. Top-seeded South Carolina blocked 14 shots, nine by Laeticia Amihere, and held No. “It says they're locked in,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. South Carolina answered with a 3-pointer from Henderson to start the Gamecocks on the run that would put the game away.

McDonald powers Arizona past Indiana and into Final Four

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)SAN ANTONIO – Aari McDonald scored 33 points and No. 4 Indiana 66-53 on Monday night to earn its first trip to the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament. Arizona (20-5) advanced to Friday’s national semifinal against top-seeded UConn, which reached its 13th straight Final Four when it beat No. But McDonald banked in a long 3-pointer to beat the shot clock early in the quarter and Arizona led 27-23 at halftime. McDonald ripped a rebound from the hands of an Indiana player and an easy layup sent Arizona into the fourth leading 46-44.

UConn reaches 13th straight Final Four, beating Baylor 69-67

Bueckers scored 28 points and top seed UConn used a huge run spanning the final two quarters to beat No. 2 Baylor 69-67 on Monday night and reach a 13th consecutive Final Four in the women’s NCAA Tournament. After a timeout, Baylor fouled Christyn Williams, who missed both free throws to give the Lady Bears one last chance. The Lady Bears (28-3) had won the previous two, including a 74-58 win at Connecticut in January of 2020. The Lady Bears closed the action-packed first quarter with a 20-10 run and trailed 26-24 after one.

Texas slows Maryland, gets to Elite Eight with 64-61 win

Charli Collier scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and No. 6 seed Texas used a grinding, hustling defensive effort to shut down the nation's highest scoring offense for a 64-61 win Sunday night in the Sweet 16. Collier scored 10 points in the second half and her last basket in the fourth quarter pulled Texas even after second-seeded Maryland had swung momentum with two baskets, including a 3-pointer. "They are not letting anybody in that huddle think about anything but win," Schaefer said. Miller scored 21 points to lead Maryland (26-3) but there was just no punch in the offense outside of her.

Louisville beats Oregon 60-42, heads to women's Elite Eight

2 seed Cardinals advanced to the regional final of the women's NCAA Tournament for the third straight time with a 60-42 win over sixth-seeded Oregon on Sunday night. She hadn’t scored more than 15 points in any of the five ACC or NCAA Tournament games before Sunday. Louisville (26-3) continued its stellar defensive play, holding Oregon (15-9) to 14 points in the first half, including six in the second quarter. The Ducks had struggled heading into the NCAA Tournament, dropping five of six before getting to Texas. Louisville didn't light it up early this time, either, but managed a 10-8 lead after the opening quarter.

Stanford romps into Elite Eight, 89-62 over Missouri State

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)SAN ANTONIO – Missouri State had waited two years to get another crack at the Sweet 16 and Stanford, only to watch the Cardinal turn their rematch into a romp. 5 Lady Bears 89-62 to earn a spot in the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA Tournament for the 21st time. Elle Ruffridge scored 18 points to lead Missouri State (23-3), a team with a history of punching above its status as a mid-major from the Missouri Valley Conference. And Missouri State was hungry to push for even bigger things after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 tournament and abruptly ended a 26-4 season. “Every game we’ve been down, we’ve always come back,” Missouri State coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said.

South Carolina beats Georgia Tech 76-65 to reach Elite Eight

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO – Zia Cooke and her South Carolina teammates were hot from the outside and rode that solid shooting to reach the Elite Eight. Cooke scored 17 points, hitting five of six 3-point attempts, to lead top-seed South Carolina to a 76-65 win over fifth-seeded Georgia Tech on Sunday and reach the Elite Eight. The South Carolina coach praised Fortner's positivity, which is something Georgia Tech needed when they hired her in 2019. Fortner provided that and had Georgia Tech reach its second-ever Sweet 16 in her second season. South Carolina built a 10-point lead before Georgia Tech scored the final six points of the half to only trail 39-35 at the break.

AP source: LaMarcus Aldridge to sign with Brooklyn Nets

New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) is blocked by San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge (12) as he tries to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)NEW YORK – The Nets aren't finished bringing big names to Brooklyn. LaMarcus Aldridge is next after deciding Saturday to sign with the Nets for the remainder of the season, a person with knowledge of the details said. After reaching a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, the veteran forward quickly became a coveted free agent for contending teams. AdAn All-Star in three of his seasons in San Antonio, Aldridge fills one of the few holes for the potent Nets.

Stan Albeck, longtime NBA coach, dies at 89 in hospice care

Albeck, the former San Antonio, Cleveland, New Jersey and Chicago head coach during a long NBA career, died Thursday, March 25, 2021, in hospice care at son John's home. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)SAN ANTONIO – Stan Albeck, the former San Antonio, Cleveland, New Jersey and Chicago head coach during a long NBA career, died Thursday in hospice care at son John's home. John Albeck told the San Antonio Express-News his father entered hospice care Thursday after having a stroke March 14. “Coach Albeck wasn’t just important to the Spurs, he was what I call a lifer," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. Albeck was inducted into the Bradley University Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Maryland women pour it on Alabama 100-64 to reach Sweet 16

(AP Photo/Ronald Cortes)SAN ANTONIO – The Maryland Terrapins are ruthless and relentless on offense and rolling once again into the Sweet 16. 7 Alabama 100-64 on Wednesday in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament. The Terps were so dominant, season scoring leader Ashley Owusu didn't make her first basket until the lead was already 46-23 in the second quarter. AdBy the second quarter, Maryland was pushing the ball inside for Reese, whose power moves and scoop layups in the post propelled a 24-point second quarter that built a 54-25 lead by halftime. Alabama paid for every mistake: Maryland turned 11 turnovers into 18 points in the first half.

Jones and 3-pointers key No. 1 Stanford over Cowgirls 73-62

(AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)SAN ANTONIO – Haley Jones scored 17 points and Stanford unleashed another barrage of 3-pointers as the overall No. 8 Oklahoma State on Tuesday night. All of those against Oklahoma State came in the first three quarters as Stanford built the lead as high as 20. The Stanford 3-pointers came from everywhere from the opening minute. AdAnna Wilson opened the scoring with consecutive shots from long range for a quick 10-3 Stanford lead.

Michigan women reach Sweet 16 for first time, beat Tennessee

6 seed Michigan to its first regional semifinals appearance with a 70-55 win over third-seeded Tennessee on Tuesday in the women's NCAA Tournament. It's great to see Michigan is not only a football and men's basketball school, but also a women’s basketball school,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. The Lady Vols missed their final seven shots of the period and ended their drought 1:18 into the third quarter. The Lady Vols' deficit grew to 17 points as Michigan went on a 22-7 run spanning the quarters. Rennia Davis scored 12 points to lead the Lady Vols, who were playing Michigan for the first time.

Lewis, Alabama women win in return to NCAA tourney, top UNC

10 seed North Carolina 80-71 on Monday in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament. “The world saw today why Jordan Lewis is the best point guard in the SEC,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. The Crimson Tide made eight straight trips to the NCAAs from 1992-99 that included a run to the Final Four in 1994. Ad“Jordan Lewis was a woman amongst children at times,” North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said. The Crimson Tide did more than just hold its own with a 46-33 advantage in rebounds.

Bueckers helps UConn rout High Point 102-59 in NCAA opener

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO – UConn did just fine without coach Geno Auriemma. Bueckers scored 24 points — the most by a UConn player in her first NCAA Tournament game — and the top-seeded Huskies routed High Point 102-59 in the first round Sunday. “We just want to continue to win for him so he can get out here with us,” Bueckers said. Muhl injured her left ankle in the Big East Tournament opener, but returned for the Huskies' game the next night. “I think that was a little bit of improv from some of the players," High Point coach Chelsea Banbury said.

NCAA teams locked away in hotel rooms amid Texas reopening

Visitors crowd the River Walk in San Antonio, Thursday, March 18, 2021, as the city prepares to host the Women's NCAA College Basketball Championship. “We are regulated to our hotel can’t go off our hall, we can eat together, we can go practice together, otherwise you are in your room,” Lehigh coach Sue Troyan said. “You can’t go outside, you can’t walk around, can’t walk down the River Walk. While the players and teams are well aware of what's going on outside their bubble-like environment, there is little signage around town promoting the women's NCAA Tournament. AdThe NCAA just wants whatever happens outside of its control environment for teams remains outside of their bubble-like stay in Texas.

IRS says new round of COVID relief payments on the way

“The payments will be delivered automatically to taxpayers even as the IRS continues delivering regular tax refunds,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement. The relief measure, which passed on party-line votes in both the House and Senate, contains the third round of economic-impact payments. The first round passed last spring provided up to $1,200 per individual, and a second round of payments in December provided up to $600 per individual. The latest round of relief payments will provide households with $1,400 for each adult, child and adult dependent, such as college students or elderly relatives. AdOfficials said they wanted to handle the payments this way rather than waiting for the 2020 tax return to be filed in the interest of speeding payments to taxpayers.

Study finds mask mandates, dining out influence virus spread

(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)NEW YORK – A new national study adds strong evidence that mask mandates can slow the spread of the coronavirus, and that allowing dining at restaurants can increase cases and deaths. The CDC researchers looked at U.S. counties placed under state-issued mask mandates and at counties that allowed restaurant dining — both indoors and at tables outside. The scientists found that mask mandates were associated with reduced coronavirus transmission, and that improvements in new cases and deaths increased as time went on. Reopening restaurant dining was not followed by a significant increase in cases and deaths in the first 40 days after restrictions were lifted. “But when you take this gathered with all the other stuff we know about the virus, it supports the message” of the value of mask wearing and the peril of restaurant dining, he added.

Texas schools, stores divided on masks as mandate ends

Greg Abbott says Texas is lifting a mask mandate and lifting business capacity limits next week. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)DALLAS – The end of Texas' mask mandate is giving Lucy Alanis second thoughts about one of her occasional indulgences during the coronavirus pandemic: dining in at restaurants. Businesses in Texas shed rules, city leaders plotted new safeguards and the state's 5 million schoolchildren largely remained under orders to keep wearing masks, at least for now. The mask mandate, which has been in place since July, and occupancy limits on restaurants and retail stores end March 10. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said his officers will continue wearing masks.

Costco to raise minimum wage to $16 per hour

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: People shop for groceries ahead of Thanksgiving at Costco Wholesale in East Harlem on November 24, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Costco Wholesale is raising the minimum wage for its hourly staff to $16 from next week, according to reports. This announcement comes a week after Walmart raised its hourly wage to an average of $15. RELATED | Walmart raising wages for 425,000 workersThe increase announcement puts its starting wages above Target’s and Amazon’s. President Joe Biden plans to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

Hectic finish awaits all NBA teams in 2nd half of season

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)The second half of the NBA schedule will be hectic, all the way to the end. And every team is scheduled to play on the final day of the regular season, a rarity. There are only two instances of teams having four games in five days in the season’s second half, both toward the very end. LOADED SLATEMay 16 could mark the first time all 30 NBA teams and all 30 Major League Baseball teams play on the same day. There were 15 NBA games and 15 MLB games on April 16, 2014 — but included in that MLB slate was a doubleheader between the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs.

Suspected hypothermia deaths in homes mount in Texas

Hypothermia can set in if the body loses heat faster than it can produce it and if it falls below about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Matt Zavadsky, a spokesman for Fort Worth area ambulance provider MedStar, said most of the hypothermia calls they received were from people in their own homes, where temperatures had dipped to 50 degrees or lower. MedStar reached a peak on Wednesday with 77 hypothermia calls, Zavadsky said. “And that’s a vicious cycle because you can’t take the action you need to.”Some of the older people who died in Texas were found outside their homes. AdExtended nighttime lows in the single digits — as experienced by Texans this week — can be especially dangerous, Glatter said, since body temperatures naturally dip overnight.