SPORTS HEADLINES

Michigan installed as early favorite over UConn in national title game despite Lendeborg injury

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — UConn knows what it will take to become the first team in more than half a century to win three national championships in four seasons. The Huskies will rely on the same physical play that helped them win the first two, along with perhaps a bit more offensive efficiency. Michigan still might need a healthy Yaxel Lendeborg to end the Big Ten’s 26-year title drought. It’s a Monday night title tilt between two loaded teams that have peaked during March Madness.

Michigan rolls to national title game with its latest double-digit March win, 91-73 over Arizona

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan overpowered Arizona early and humbled the ’Cats all night long, turning the Final Four meeting billed as the game of the year into a 91-73 Wolverines highlight reel. Junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and had nine rebounds, a dinged-up Yaxel Lendeborg had 11 points in 14 minutes and the Blue blew through their fifth straight March Madness opponent by double digits. Michigan became the first team to break 90 points five times in a single tournament. Next up is a title matchup Monday against UConn, a 71-62 winner over Illinois in the early semifinal.

UConn and Hurley muscle their way to 3rd national title game in 4 seasons, beating Illinois 71-62

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — UConn got another critical 3-pointer from Braylon Mullins and coach Dan Hurley’s Huskies are heading back to the national title game. UConn beat Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four on Saturday night as the Huskies seek their third championship in four seasons. Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while the fabulous freshman Mullins scored 15 for the Huskies, who rode strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet 16 or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament. UConn will face Michigan on Monday night as it seeks its seventh title, all since 1999.

Jo Adell robs 3 homers in what Torii Hunter calls the `greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen’

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — You’ve done something special when Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner known for his acrobatic catches, calls what you just did “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.” That was the praise Hunter heaped on the Los Angeles Angels’ Jo Adell after the right fielder made three homer-robbing catches, the last a spectacular leaping grab against J.P. Crawford while crashing into the seats near the right-field foul pole in the ninth inning, in a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night. Adell leaped high above the yellow line on the wall in straightaway right to deny Cal Raleigh in the first inning, and made a nearly identical catch to against Josh Naylor in the eighth.

Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg turns left ankle and injures knee in Wolverines’ Final Four win

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg finished with 11 points while playing just 14 minutes due to ankle and knee injuries in Saturday’s 91-73 win over Arizona in the Final Four. The first-team All-American left the game in the first half but was back on the court to start the second half. That came after he gingerly went through a series of warmup exercises at midcourt to test his left ankle. Lendeborg also wore a brace on his left knee. He said after the game that he turned his ankle and sprained his MCL, but he plans to play in Monday night’s national title game against UConn.

Dawn Staley eyes another title as South Carolina meets UCLA in the NCAA women’s final

PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley won a national title nine years ago in her first trip as a coach to the NCAA championship game. Now UCLA is playing for the NCAA title in women’s basketball for the first time, and Staley hopes to help South Carolina deny the Bruins on Sunday. Since that first title in 2017, Staley has added two more. A win over UCLA would tie Staley for the third most titles by a coach, trailing only Geno Auriemma and the late Pat Summitt. Meanwhile, the Bruins haven’t won a national title since 1978, when women’s basketball was governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

Geno Auriemma apologizes for tense exchange with Dawn Staley after 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.

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.

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.

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.