Date: 03/26/2013 05:50 AM
NW–SportsMinute/567
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Shacobia Barbee scored 20 points, including a key 3-pointer with 2:03 left, and No. 4 seed Georgia held off Iowa State’s furious second-half rally for a 65-60 win over the Cyclones in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament last night in Spokane. A year after getting upset in the first round by Marist, Georgia is back in the round of 16 for the 20th time in school history. The Bulldogs will face No. 1 seed Stanford or eighth-seeded Michigan in the regional semifinals on Saturday.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indianapolis tourism officials say Louisville, Michigan State and Duke basketball fans are driving up demand for hotel rooms and tickets to the NCAA men’s regional basketball tournament. Louisville plays Oregon and Duke plays Michigan State on Friday. The winners play Sunday for a berth in the Final Four. Local ticket brokers tell the Indianapolis Business Journal that Duke was sparking interest not only from Duke alumni and supporters in North Carolina but also from Indianapolis and central Indiana.
SEATTLE (AP) – Washington coach Lorenzo Romar says he’s had no contact from UCLA regarding the Bruins’ head coaching position. Romar was asked about the UCLA job Monday during his season-ending news conference. Romar said it’s understandable his name gets brought up with the UCLA vacancy. Romar is a Southern California native who worked as an assistant at UCLA from 1992-96, including the Bruins’ 1995 national championship season. Romar just completed his 11th season as Washington’s head coach.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Gonzaga’s special season has ended with another early exit in the NCAA tournament. Although they reached No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 and earned a top seed in the tournament, the Zags were bounced 76-70 in the round of 32 on Saturday by Wichita State. Now attention turns to whether star center Kelly Olynyk will return for his senior season. Gonzaga (32-3) became just the fifth top seed to lose in the round of 32 since the NCAA expanded to 64 teams, and that gave fuel to critics who contended this team was overrated. But players and coaches insist the season will not be defined by one game.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Add another investor to the group Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is assembling to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle. Johnson announced last night that Paul Jacobs, CEO of the international technology company Qualcomm, has agreed to become part of the Sacramento bid. Jacobs joins a group that includes billionaire investor Ron Burkle, 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and TIBCO Software CEO Vivek Ranadive. Sacramento is hoping to block a bid by a group that has a pending purchase agreement to buy the Kings from the Maloof family and move the team to Seattle.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) – Jesus Montero hit a grand slam, Michael Saunders homered among his three hits and the Seattle Mariners hammered Homer Bailey in a 16-0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds. Saunders connected off Bailey, and Justin Smoak added two hits off the right-hander, driving in three runs. Montero’s slam came off Wilken De La Rosa, one of two non-roster pitchers left in Reds camp. Bailey was due to pitch five innings but lasted 3 1-3, allowing nine runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out five.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
