WJPA Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are back in the NCAA Tournament title game after knocking off unbeaten UConn and Geno Auriemma in a physical contest that ended with a heated exchange between the game’s most recognizable coaches. Ta’Niva Latson scored 16 and Agot Makeer added 14 points and South Carolina played stifling defense to beat UConn, 62-48, Friday night, ending the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak. The Gamecocks have now reached the NCAA championship game in four of the last five seasons, including the past three. They will be looking to win a fourth national title Sunday when they face UCLA.

Lauren Betts hit the play button over and over, forcing herself to watch last year’s Final Four blowout loss to UConn 10 times during the offseason. The two-time All-American made sure there wasn’t a repeat performance in this year’s Final Four, swooping in for the biggest play in a game that sends the Bruins into the NCAA national championship game for the first time. Heeding her coaches’ persistent advice to sprint back on defense, Betts swatted fellow All-American Madison Booker with 20 seconds left, allowing UCLA to withstand a late charge by Texas for a 51-44 win in the Final Four on Friday night.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Teenager Konnor Griffin made a splash in his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 19-year-old shortstop delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat to lead Pittsburgh to a 5-4 win over Baltimore. Griffin also drew a walk and handled all of his defensive chances with ease as the Pirates won their third straight. Jared Triolo had two hits and drove in a run for Pittsburgh. Mitch Keller worked six innings to pick up his first win of the season. Gunnar Henderson had three hits for Baltimore, including a solo home run in the ninth.

President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at fixing college sports that would give federal agencies authority to cut funding at schools that don’t comply with mandates covering transfers, eligibility and pay-for-play in the rapidly changing industry. The order is a laundry list of proposed fixes that lawmakers and college leaders have been pushing for. Among the notable parts of the order was a call to establish “clear, consistent and fair eligibility limits, including a five-year participation window.”