Date: 10/23/2012 05:57 AM
NW–SportsMinute/433
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Nicolas Batum (bah-TOOM’) scored 27 points and rookie Damian Lillard had 21 as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 120-114 last night. Batum scored 15 points in the first quarter and hit five 3-pointers. Lillard, the No. 6 pick of the draft, made three 3-pointers during the first half. J.J. Hickson had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Wesley Matthews scored 15 points for Portland. The Blazers made 12 3-pointers and shot 58 percent (42 of 73) overall from the field.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Stanford, which has reached the Final Four in each of the past five seasons, is an overwhelming favorite to repeat as Pac-12 women’s basketball champion. Stanford received the maximum of 11 first-place votes in a poll of Pac-12 coaches. California got the other first-place vote and came in second. UCLA was chosen third, followed by Southern California, Arizona State, Oregon State, Utah, Washington, Colorado, Washington State, Oregon and Arizona.
SEATTLE (AP) – The Seattle Mariners have hired former major leaguer Dave Hansen to be their new hitting coach, replacing Chris Chambliss, who was fired after the season. The Mariners made the announcement on Monday. Hansen spent half of the 2011 and all of the 2012 season in the same position with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being fired at the end of the season. Prior to joining the Dodgers, Hansen spent four seasons as a hitting instructor in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks returned to practice for the first time since their 13-6 loss to San Francisco and after 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh made comments about the physical play of Seattle’s defensive backs. Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner said Monday that Harbaugh’s claims were “obnoxious” considering the 49ers won the game. Harbaugh said Friday that he intended to speak with the league about what he felt was overly physical play from the Seahawks’ defensive backs that made it difficult for receivers Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss and Kyle Williams to break free.
SEATTLE (AP) – Washington’s three-game losing streak is enough of a concern for Steve Sarkisian that with a home game against No. 7 Oregon State this week, correcting the Huskies’ road woes can take a backseat. But the reality is that very soon, Washington will need to correct its trend of being uncompetitive away from home or its goal of reaching a bowl game for a third straight season will disappear. It was the Huskies’ sixth straight road loss dating back to last season.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
