NCAA:
Make it an unprecedented four straight NCAA titles for the Connecticut women's team. The Huskies beat Syracuse for the 24th straight time in a streak dating to 1996, thrashing the Orange 82-51 to win their 75th straight game, including 24 in a row in the NCAA tournament. Breanna Stewart won an unprecedented most outstanding player award with 24 points and 10 boards.
UConn's Breanna Stewart earned the most outstanding player of the Final Four for the fourth consecutive year to go along with the four national championships. No other women's player has won it more than twice and only Lew Alcindor did it three times on the men's side.
Villanova canceled classes yesterday after the men's basketball team captured the national championship. And the party will go on with a victory parade in Philadelphia. Students and fans welcomed home the national champions at the campus football stadium. Friday's parade in Philadelphia will cover five blocks of Market Street and end outside City Hall. The Phillies were the last championship team to have a parade, in 2008. The television rating for Monday's night's thriller was a record low.
Kentucky has announced that freshman Skal Labissiere will enter the NBA draft. He becomes the second Wildcat in the past four days to announce he will turn pro. The school says the 6-foot-11, 225-pound Haitian will hire an agent, which keeps him from reconsidering and staying in school.
Elsewhere:
— Purdue sophomore Vince Edwards says he plans on entering the NBA draft. He has not hired an agent, which means he could change his mind. The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward led Purdue with 100 assists and 46 3-pointers made last season. He also finished second in scoring, at 11.3 points, and third in rebounding, at 5.4.
— Marquette freshman Henry Ellenson has decided to enter the NBA draft and hire an agent, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. The 6-foot-11 forward won Big East freshman of the year honors for scoring a team-high 17 points a game for the Golden Eagles.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, Houston topped Yankees 5-3, Boston tripled up Cleveland 6-2, Tampa Bay edged Toronto 3-2, Seattle blasted Texas 10-2, and it was the White Sox over Oakland 5-4.
In the National League, Pittsburgh beat St. Louis in 11 innings 6-5, San Francisco won against Milwaukee 2-1, Arizona bested Colorado 11-6, and it was the Dodgers over San Diego 3-0.
In interleague play, the Mets blanked Kansas City 2-0, Detroit beat Miami 8-7 in 11 innings, and it was the Cubs over the Angels 6-1.
Yankees pitcher Bryan Mitchell will be sidelined for at least four months following surgery to repair a broken bone in his left big toe. The 24-year-old right-hander fractured the bone while covering first base last Wednesday during an exhibition game against Atlanta.
Boston Red Sox fans gave an immediate thumbs-up on pitcher David Price, who was signed to a seven-year, $217 million dollar contact in the off-season. In his Red Sox debut at Fenway Park, Price fanned 10 and picked up the win in Boston's weather-delayed 6-2 win over Cleveland.
NBA:
In the NBA, Philadelphia beat New Orleans 107-93, Toronto bested Charlotte 96-90, Memphis defeated Chicago 108-92, Cleveland topped Milwaukee 109-80, Miami won against Detroit 107-89, Atlanta bested Phoenix 103-90, Oklahoma City beat Denver 124-102, San Antonio edged Utah 88-86, Portland trumped Sacramento 115-107, the Clippers topped the Lakers 103-81, and it was Minnesota over Golden State 124-117.
A Brooklyn man has been charged in the robbery and shooting of New York Knicks player Cleanthony Early outside a Queens strip club in December. A complaint filed in federal court says 22-year-old Delvon Dowling was part of a group of masked men who staked out the club last December. Documents say when Early exited the club and got into an Uber car the group approached the vehicle with guns drawn. Police say Early was ordered out of the car, shot in the right leg and robbed of necklaces, gold caps from his teeth and other items.
Authorities say Dowling was arrested Friday on unrelated charges and admitted to being part of the crew that robbed Early. He didn't admit to being the gunman. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
NHL:
In the NHL, Buffalo won against New Jersey 3-1, Carolina topped Boston in a shootout 2-1, the Islanders edged Washington in overtime 4-3, the Rangers bested Tampa Bay 3-2, Florida defeated Montreal 4-1, Pittsburgh beat Ottawa 5-3, Nashville edged Colorado 4-3, San Jose blanked Minnesota 3-0, Chicago tripled up Arizona 6-2, Los Angeles edged Calgary in overtime 5-4, and it was Winnipeg over Anaheim in overtime 2-1.
New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh is going to miss the final three games of the regular season and his status for the playoffs is uncertain because of an upper body injury suffered Monday night. McDonagh is the team's top defenseman and a key component in all the special teams. His plus-26 rating is the best on the team.
NFL:
The New York Giants have finally turned their attention to their offensive by signing fullback Will Johnson and offensive linemen Ryan Seymour and Dillon Farrell. The Giants made headlines early in free agency by signing defensive end Olivier Vernon, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and tackle Damon "Snacks" Richardson. They announced the latest moves yesterday.
The owners of the New York Jets and Giants announced Tuesday that Ron VanDeVeen has been appointed president and chief executive officer of MetLife Stadium. VanDeVeen takes over from Brad Mayne, who will stay as a consultant as VanDeVeen transitions into his new job. VanDeVeen had been the senior vice president of events and guest experiences at the stadium. He has spent his entire career at the Meadowlands. MetLife Stadium was selected the top stadium for non-NFL events in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 by Billboard Magazine.
During an interview with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Defensive end free agent Greg Hardy says “I have never put my hand on any woman.” Hardy was accused by his former girlfriend of throwing her against a wall, throwing her on a bed covered with assault rifles, choking and threatening her.
PGA:
Jack Nicklaus says he thinks Tiger Woods will win again. After seeing him a few weeks ago, Nicklaus is surprised Woods isn't playing the Masters that starts on Thursday. Nicklaus leads Woods 18-14 in the race for most majors. Woods has not won a major since 2009.
Boston Marathon:
Public safety officials will hold a news conference to discuss planning for this year'sBoston Marathon.
Leaders from the Boston Athletic Association, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and law enforcement officials will outline ongoing security plans on Wednesday at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Officials from the eight communities that host the race also will be at the news conference.
The 120th Boston Marathon is scheduled for April 18. That day, the Multi-Agency Coordination Center for themarathon will host more than 220 liaisons representing 52 local, state, federal and volunteer agencies to monitor events, share information and coordinate resources. Security at the marathon has been stepped up significantly since two bombs exploded near the finish line of the 2013 marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260.
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