SPORTS HEADLINES

Geno Auriemma apologizes after tense endgame exchange with Dawn Staley in UConn loss

PHOENIX (AP) — UConn coach Geno Auriemma has apologized for his actions during a heated exchange with Dawn Staley at the end of the Huskies’ loss to South Carolina in the women’s Final Four. A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South Carolina’s 62-48 victory on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with anyone from South Carolina.

Buffalo Sabres clinch a playoff spot to end the longest drought in NHL history

Bring on postseason hockey in Buffalo. The Sabres’ playoff drought is finally over. Following an NHL-record 14 seasons of futility, during which the team finished no better than 19th in the league standings, the Sabres clinched a berth on Saturday when the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation. Buffalo’s playoff drought was among the four North American sports’ longest active streaks, ranking second behind the NFL’s New York Jets, who last qualified in 2010.

Maria Jose Marin wins Augusta National Women’s Amateur after Asterisk Talley meltdown

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Maria Jose Marin of Colombia has won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. California teenager Asterisk Talley has reason to feel she lost it. Talley was cruising along until a shocking meltdown on the back nine at Augusta National. Talley twice hit into the water from a back bunker on the par-3 12th and made quadruple bogey that put her five shots behind. Marin, a junior at Arkansas, shot a 68 and set the Augusta National Women’s Amateur record at 14-under 202. She is the third NCAA champion to win the tournament, following Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang. Talley shot 75 and tied for fourth.

Parker, Delle Donne and 1996 US Olympic women’s basketball team set for Hall of Fame enshrinement

PHOENIX (AP) — Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Parker, Holdsclaw and members of the 1996 Olympic team were all in attendance Friday at halftime of the UConn-South Carolina game during the women’s Final Four, where the selections were announced. So were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA official Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Brewers inherit ‘rally tortoise’ after manager Pat Murphy is told no pocket pancakes in TV interview

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers apparently have a quirky new mascot, a tortoise named Bobby Jr. During a pregame interview Friday, manager Pat Murphy pulled out the tortoise as a joke instead of his usual “pocket pancakes.” It stems from a viral moment last season when Murphy was shown eating pancakes that he had pulled out of his hoodie pockets during a midgame interview. So told that he couldn’t have any pocket pancakes during an interview with Apple TV reporter Tricia Whitaker, Murphy presented her with what he thought was a pocket turtle instead. Turns out it is actually a tortoise. And given rules about reptiles on planes, Whitaker says she had to leave the creature in Kansas City with the team for now.

Haaland hat trick propels Man City to thrashing of Liverpool in FA Cup quarterfinals

Erling Haaland’s 18-minute hat trick has powered Manchester City to a 4-0 win over Liverpool and into the FA Cup semifinals for a record eighth straight season. Mohamed Salah’s failure from the penalty spot added to the woes of Liverpool. The Reds’ meltdown at Etihad Stadium will put more heat on under-pressure manager Arne Slot. Haaland converted a penalty in the 39th minute, headed home a cross from Antoine Semenyo in first-half stoppage time, and then swept in a finish off the crossbar in the 57th to score his first hat trick of the season for City. Chelsea also advanced from the quarterfinals by routing third-tier Port Vale 7-0. Arsenal visits second-tier Southampton later.

Tigers place Justin Verlander on 15-day injured list with hip injury

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander’s long-awaited return to Comerica Park as a member of the Detroit Tigers has been put on hold. Verlander, the major league’s oldest active player at 43, was placed on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation. Verlander was scheduled on Sunday night to make his first start in a Tigers uniform at Detroit’s home park since Aug. 20, 2017. Verlander was dealt to Houston at the trade deadline that season. He re-signed with Detroit on a one-year, $13 million contract in February after spending last season with San Francisco.

Avs defenseman Brent Burns becomes 2nd in NHL history to skate in 1,000 consecutive games

DALLAS (AP) — Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns became the second player in NHL history to appear in 1,000 consecutive games when Colorado faced against Central Division rival Dallas on Saturday. The bearded 41-year-old was recognized on the video board by the Stars early in the game. Plenty of Dallas fans joined a vocal Avs contingent in cheering for Burns. Burns has been in the lineup for every game since Nov. 21, 2013, with San Jose. He also has played for Minnesota and Carolina. Phil Kessel holds the all-time ironman streak 1,064 regular-season games from 2009-23.

South Carolina returns to the NCAA championship game in a showdown with newcomer UCLA

PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are back in a familiar place, reaching the NCAA championship game for the fourth time in five years. They’ll have to beat a title-seeking newcomer in UCLA to win the ultimate prize. South Carolina will be trying to win its fourth national championship in nine years. The Gamecocks played stifling defense to knock off UConn 62-48 and end the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak in the semifinals Friday night. UCLA played incredible defense of its own in its 51-44 win over Texas. The Bruins spoiled a chance at the first all-SEC title game since 2017, when Staley’s team beat Mississippi State, which was led by current Texas coach Vic Schaefer.

UCLA withstands Texas’ late charge, reaches 1st NCAA championship game with grinding 51-44 win

PHOENIX (AP) — Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block late, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas for a 51-44 win to reach the women’s NCAA Tournament national championship game for the first time. Manhandled by eventual national champion UConn in their first Final Four a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semifinal with the best season in program history. A chance at a first national championship game appearance had to go through the only team to beat them this season. Overpowered in the first meeting, the Bruins turned the bully tables on Texas (35-4), shutting down All-American Madison Booker while building a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.